Gloop FREE vs Sphero Play
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Gloop FREE
Explore a unique interactive simulation of a viscous, glowing substance. Manipulate its properties by stirring or treating it gently to create dynamic visual effects and even shape it. Supports real-time warping of photos, images, and video on compatible devices.
- Interactive molecular simulation
- Dynamic glowing effects
- Viscosity and solidification control
- Photo and image warping
- Real-time video warping
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"Gloop" sits somewhere in that improbable space between an interactive lava lamp, foam resting on water and alien clouds lit by the setting sun(s). Whatever it is, as you stir this bizarre mix thousands of virtual molecules collide with each other, sticking and slipping. This generates heat causing the gloop to glow and become less viscous. If you treat the gloop more gently it cools and solidifies allowing you to give it form. Gloop FREE now features warping of photos, images and real time video on iPhone 3GS+, iPod 3rd Gen+ and iPad+. Photos and real time video require a device with a camera. ------------ Also by RunSwimFly - "Germs" and "Germs FREE" - the liquid physics engine of "Gloop" employed in a game of microbial conquest.
Sphero Play
Control and play with various Sphero robots using a single application. Explore multiple drive modes, engage in robot-controlled games, and learn basic programming through a block-based interface.
- Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice)
- Robot-controlled games
- Block Drive programming
- Sports-themed drive modes
- Voice control
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Drive and play games from ONE app with your Sphero Mini, Sphero 2.0, SPRK, SPRK+, BOLT, and BOLT+. Connect and control your robots with several exciting drive modes, use your robot as a controller to play games, or try out Block Drive for an intro to programming with colorful blocks. Features include: DRIVE MODES Drive your robots several ways with the Sphero Play app. Use the joystick and slingshot controls, tilt your device, or use your voice. Our sports-themed drive modes keep things fun with the ability to swing your device to "golf"*, or flick to "kick" your robot. BLOCK DRIVE PROGRAMMING Learn programming basics by controlling your robot with colorful movement and light blocks. GAMES Use your robot as a controller to shoot your way through space, race your vehicle through a tunnel avoiding obstacles and scoring points, or rotate your ball to destroy a polygon of bricks. Need robots? We know a guy. Visit sphero.com and order today. *This mode is not available on iPads.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Sphero Play at 4.8 against Gloop FREE's 4.1. Sphero Play also leads on ratings volume (37K vs 57) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). Gloop FREE's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 69%) and iOS requirement (4.3 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sphero Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Gloop FREE's written reviews are positive against 69% of Sphero Play's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Gloop FREE ships an update every 5 months, Sphero Play every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Gloop FREE | Sphero Play |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (57 ratings) | 4.8 (37K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.9% of reviews — better | 69.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 57 | 37K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 4.3 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 0 MB | 193 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RunSwimFly | Sphero, Inc. |
Customer experience
Gloop FREE
Sphero Play
User reviews
Gloop FREE
From 57 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 😊 Highly addictive and entertaining
- 🎨 Mesmerizing fluid physics simulation
- 💰 Free with no ads
- 🎮 Relaxing and stress-relieving
- 🎯 Simple yet engaging gameplay
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes after extended play sessions
- 📉 Graphics quality is blurry
- 🔧 Difficult to manipulate without tearing
- ⚠️ Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 🔊 No sound effects
Sphero Play
From 37K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fun and engaging app
- 👍 Great controls and customization
- 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
- 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
- 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability
Bugs and requests
Gloop FREE
Reported bugs
9 issues- App unavailable on modern iOS devices
- Crashes on iPad after 5+ minutes of play
- Accelerometer malfunction on iPhone 4
- Blurry graphics during gameplay
- Goop turns yellow and becomes uncontrollable when touched
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- Goop dissipates unexpectedly
- Landscape mode doesn't work properly
- Full version not available for iPod Touch
- Color changes to blue after brief time in lite version
Requested features
13 requests- Gravity and tilt controls
- Sound effects for interactions
- Thicker, more viscous goop consistency
- More goop quantity
- Additional shapes and particle types
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- Game levels or progression system
- Multiplayer functionality
- HD graphics upgrade
- Ability to insert pictures
- Background color customization
- Landscape screen support
- Firework sounds on explosions
- Smaller globs absorption mechanic
Sphero Play
Reported bugs
2 issues- Joystick controls not working as expected
- Alignment issues causing unexpected movement
Requested features
4 requests- More games and activities
- Support for additional Sphero products (e.g. Ollie, BB-8)
- Improved aiming and control precision
- Camera integration to see the Sphero's view
In-app purchases
Gloop FREE
No in-app purchases
Sphero Play
No in-app purchases
