# Gloop FREE vs Sphero Play

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gloop FREE | Sphero Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gloop-free/id326101033/reviews) | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 57 | **37K** |
| Positive reviews | **82.9% of reviews** | 69.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 0 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **4.3** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RunSwimFly](https://appshunter.io/developer/324817571) | [Sphero, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/468699622) |

## What reviewers say

### Gloop FREE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gloop-free/id326101033)

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.

**Highlights:** Interactive molecular simulation, Dynamic glowing effects, Viscosity and solidification control, Photo and image warping, Real-time video warping

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Highly addictive and entertaining
- 🎨 Mesmerizing fluid physics simulation
- 💰 Free with no ads
- 🎮 Relaxing and stress-relieving
- 🎯 Simple yet engaging gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes after extended play sessions
- 📉 Graphics quality is blurry
- 🔧 Difficult to manipulate without tearing
- ⚠️ Compatibility issues with newer devices
- 🔊 No sound effects

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Gravity and tilt controls
- Sound effects for interactions
- Thicker, more viscous goop consistency
- More goop quantity
- Additional shapes and particle types


### Sphero Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522)

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.

**Highlights:** Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice), Robot-controlled games, Block Drive programming, Sports-themed drive modes, Voice control

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and engaging app
- 👍 Great controls and customization
- 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
- 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
- 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability

**Reported bugs**

- Joystick controls not working as expected
- Alignment issues causing unexpected movement

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gloop FREE free?

Gloop FREE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sphero Play free?

Sphero Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Gloop FREE or Sphero Play?

Sphero Play is rated higher. Gloop FREE averages 4.1 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while Sphero Play averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.

### Do Gloop FREE or Sphero Play have ads?

Neither Gloop FREE nor Sphero Play shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gloop FREE or Sphero Play?

Gloop FREE ships an update every 5 months, and Sphero Play every 2 months. Most recently, Gloop FREE was updated on November 6, 2026 and Sphero Play on November 12, 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.*