# Bubble Buster vs Bubble Explode

The clearest difference is rating: Bubble Explode at 4.6 against Bubble Buster's 3.9. Bubble Explode also leads on ratings volume (19K vs 52) and review sentiment (79% vs 62%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bubble Buster sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Bubble Explode sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bubble Explode holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bubble Explode has 19K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Bubble Buster's written reviews are positive against 79% of Bubble Explode's.

Bubble Buster ships an update every 6 weeks, Bubble Explode every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bubble Buster | Bubble Explode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-buster/id318267805/reviews) | **[4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-explode-pop-puzzle/id376098160/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 52 | **19K** |
| Positive reviews | 62.2% of reviews | **78.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 243 MB | 243 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +12 | 12+ |
| Developer | [North Sky Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1117513574) | [Spooky House Studios UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/376098163) |

## What reviewers say

### Bubble Buster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-buster/id318267805)

Engage in addictive bubble-popping gameplay across hundreds of levels. Blast through obstacles, catch fish, and create powerful combo bubbles to achieve high scores and challenge friends. Enjoy vibrant graphics and a fun, yet challenging, experience.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of fun-filled levels, Combo bubbles (Explosive, Shark, Rainbow), Catch fish and blast obstacles, Beat friends' high scores, Eye-popping graphics, Addictive bubble popping action

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Micro Coin Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tiny Coin Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Timed Offer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Coin Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Small Special Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large Timed Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| Medium Special Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Pack | $29.99 | one-time |
| Large Special Pack | $39.99 | one-time |
| Huge Coin Pack | $54.99 | one-time |
| Jumbo Special Pack | $79.99 | one-time |
| Jumbo Coin Pack | $99.99 | one-time |
| Huge Special Pack | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Simple and easy to understand
- 💎 Challenging levels keep players engaged
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤯 Frustrating difficulty spikes in later levels
- 💰 Aggressive monetization with in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Bubbles not registering taps correctly
- Game freezing after watching ads
- Scores and progress not syncing across devices

**Requested features**

- More level variety and progression
- Undo/restart option for mistakes
- Colorblind accessibility options
- Cloud save functionality


### Bubble Explode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-explode-pop-puzzle/id376098160)

Engage in a captivating bubble-popping puzzle experience with chain reactions and satisfying animations. Explore numerous game modes, unlock new skins, and compete globally. Save your progress and customize your gameplay speed.

**Highlights:** Chain reaction bubble explosions, Multiple game modes, Unlockable skins, Global online scoreboards, Adjustable animation speed, Undo moves

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium User 1 Month | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium User 1 Week free trial | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium User 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| 1000 Pearls | $1.99 | one-time |
| 30 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Daily offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| 80 Gems | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bubble Explode Ad Free | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5 000 Pearls 30% OFF | $5.99 | one-time |
| Daily Offer x3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Pearls | $5.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Pearls | $9.99 | one-time |
| 25 000 Pearls | $19.99 | one-time |
| 150 000 Pearls | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1 Million Pearls | $499.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and relaxing games
- 🧠 Challenging and engaging
- 🎨 Great graphics and visuals
- 🎶 Enjoyable music and sounds
- 💰 Generous with free pearls/coins

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔄 Forced ads and in-app purchases
- 🤔 Confusing or unfair game mechanics
- 🕰️ Slow or unresponsive gameplay
- 🔍 Cluttered and distracting UI

**Reported bugs**

- Wildcard/power-up reloading issues
- Incorrect or missing achievements
- Uneven difficulty spikes in some games
- Touchscreen calibration problems
- Forced bonus levels disrupting gameplay

**Requested features**

- More free game modes and content
- Ability to disable ads and suggestions
- Improved scoring and progression systems
- Better syncing across devices
- More customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bubble Buster free?

Bubble Buster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bubble Explode free?

Bubble Explode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bubble Buster or Bubble Explode?

Bubble Explode is rated higher. Bubble Buster averages 3.9 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Bubble Explode averages 4.6 from 19K ratings.

### Do Bubble Buster or Bubble Explode have ads?

Both Bubble Buster and Bubble Explode show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bubble Buster or Bubble Explode?

Bubble Buster ships an update every 6 weeks, and Bubble Explode every 2 months. Most recently, Bubble Buster was updated on October 13, 2026 and Bubble Explode on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*