IGN Entertainment vs Nintendo Switch App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
IGN Entertainment
Access the latest gaming news, in-depth reviews, gameplay insights, and trailers for games and movies. Log in to bookmark your favorite content for easy access later.
- Browse news and reviews
- Watch gameplay and trailers
- Bookmark articles and videos
- Login with IGN account
- Simple navigation
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The official IGN app offers simple navigation to make it easy to quickly browse news, reviews, gameplay, movie trailers, game trailers, and more. Log in with your IGN account to bookmark articles and videos to save the news and reviews you care about, and quickly get back to them.
Nintendo Switch App
Enhance your Nintendo Switch online gaming with this companion app. Check friends' online status, add them easily, and access game-specific services. View and share screenshots and videos directly from your system.
- Check friends' online status
- Add friends via QR code or friend code
- View and share screenshots/videos
- Access game-specific services
- Receive notifications for friend online status
- Game-specific features for Zelda, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, Smash Bros.
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The Nintendo Switch App smartphone app enhances your online gameplay experience on the Nintendo Switch™ 2 and Nintendo Switch systems. With this app, you can use friend features and game-specific services for compatible games even when you're not playing! You can also view and share screenshots and videos uploaded from your system. ◆ Check friends' online status You can check whether your friends are online and see what games they're playing. You can also choose to receive a notification in the app when a friend comes online. ◆ Use your smartphone to add friends You can add friends via their friend code or a QR code even when you're not using your system. ◆ View your screenshots and videos You can upload screenshots and videos saved in your Nintendo Switch 2 system's Album to the app, then view, save, and share them. ◆ Access game-specific services You can use these services to view helpful information related to the supported software! You will also have access to a variety of features that will help take your online gameplay experience to the next level. Currently, game-specific services are available for these games: ・ The Legend of Zelda™: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and The Legend of Zelda™: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ・ Get voice guidance to help you reach locations you haven't visited yet ・ Share schematics and items via QR codes ...And more! ・ Splatoon™ 3 ・ View the online status of friends playing the game ・ View your battle and Salmon Run stats ・ View upcoming stage schedules ...And more! ・ Animal Crossing™: New Horizons ・ Send custom designs created in Animal Crossing games on the Nintendo 3DS™ system to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game ・ Use your smartphone to send messages that appear in-game ・ Check the online status of users set as Best Friends ...And more! ・ Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate ・ View posted images and videos ・ Queue downloads of user-created stages to play them in your game ・ Get notifications about upcoming events ...And more! ・ Splatoon™ 2 ・ Check leaderboards and map schedules ・ View your battle and Salmon Run stats ...And more! Important Information: ● Nintendo Account age 13+ required to access some online features, including voice chat. ● Active Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) required to use certain features. ● Nintendo Switch 2 / Nintendo Switch system and compatible software required to use app features. ● Compatible smartphone required. ● Persistent internet connection required. ● Data charges may apply. ● May include advertising. For more information about GameChat, visit support.nintendo.com ◆ Nintendo Switch Online is not available in all countries. Terms apply. Visit nintendo.com/purchase-terms for more information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: IGN Entertainment at 4.4 against Nintendo Switch App's 3.1. IGN Entertainment also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (44% vs 35%). Nintendo Switch App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. IGN Entertainment sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Nintendo Switch App asks for nothing beyond the download.
IGN Entertainment holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20K and 13K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of IGN Entertainment's written reviews are positive against 35% of Nintendo Switch App's.
IGN Entertainment ships an update every 2 weeks, Nintendo Switch App every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.
| Parameter | IGN Entertainment | Nintendo Switch App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (20K ratings) — better | 3.1 (13K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 43.5% of reviews — better | 34.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 20K — better | 13K |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #120 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 78 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Nintendo Co., Ltd. |
Customer experience
IGN Entertainment
Nintendo Switch App
User reviews
IGN Entertainment
From 20K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast app
- 📰 Good source for news and reviews
- 🎮 Useful for gamers
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 💤 Slow performance
- 📺 Excessive ads and auto-playing videos
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
Nintendo Switch App
From 13K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Useful for Splatoon 2
- 👍 Convenient for ACNH
- 🚀 Information-rich for Splatoon 3
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes on login
- 🔋 Drains phone battery
- 👎 Limited game support
- 👎 Confusing voice chat implementation
- 👎 Lacks basic features like messaging
Bugs and requests
IGN Entertainment
Reported bugs
5 issues- Login issues and frequent sign-outs
- Video playback problems
- Freezing and crashing
- Inconsistent UI and layout
- Content not loading properly
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to filter and search content
- Landscape mode support
- Improved bookmarking and saving functionality
- Better notification and social features
Nintendo Switch App
Reported bugs
3 issues- Login issues
- Infinite loading screens
- Disconnects during voice chat
Requested features
5 requests- Add messaging/invite system
- Integrate with more games
- Allow access to eShop and game libraries
- Improve voice chat quality and functionality
- Add support for landscape mode on iPad
In-app purchases
IGN Entertainment
- Early Adopter Bonus$0.99
Nintendo Switch App
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is IGN Entertainment free?
Is Nintendo Switch App free?
Which has better reviews, IGN Entertainment or Nintendo Switch App?
Do IGN Entertainment or Nintendo Switch App have ads?
Which is updated more often, IGN Entertainment or Nintendo Switch App?
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