# Gold Miner Joe vs Bubbles

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Gold Miner Joe at 87% against Bubbles's 0%. Gold Miner Joe also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 months vs every 37 months). Bubbles's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Bubbles is free to download; Gold Miner Joe costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Bubbles holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gold Miner Joe has 31 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 87% of Gold Miner Joe's written reviews are positive against 0% of Bubbles's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Gold Miner Joe ships an update every 9 months, Bubbles every 37 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gold Miner Joe | Bubbles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gold-miner-joe/id327802424/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubbles-pop-the-bubbles/id1515066621/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **31** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **86.9% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 months** | Every 37 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#128** | — |
| Size | 15 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Donut Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/310068844) | [Andrew Sverdrup](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434955212) |

## What reviewers say

### Gold Miner Joe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gold-miner-joe/id327802424)

**Currently charting:** #128 Top Paid · Family (US App Store)

Embark on a retro-style adventure as Joe, a gold miner exploring glittering mines. Jump and run through 50 levels, collecting gold nuggets while evading enemies. Utilize dynamite and discover secret gems in this classic platforming experience.

**Highlights:** 50 gold mines to explore, Bonus levels with treasures, 8 secret gems to uncover, Dynamite for blowing up obstacles, Innovative swipe controls, Optional D-pad controls

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun platformer
- 🚀 Entertaining and challenging
- 💡 Retro feel
- 👍 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Checkpoint issues
- 👎 Small graphics on iPhone 11
- 👎 Awkward controls on mobile
- 🐛 Some in-game features don't work

**Reported bugs**

- Checkpoint issues
- Controls not working as expected

**Requested features**

- More levels
- Difficulty options
- More lives for player
- Ability to kill bats


### Bubbles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubbles-pop-the-bubbles/id1515066621)

A simple and relaxing game where players pop floating bubbles. It's designed to help users destress and relieve anxiety, offering a calming experience. For those seeking more, a challenge mode tests reaction time.

**Highlights:** Pop floating bubbles, Relaxing gameplay, Stress relief, Anxiety relief, Challenge mode, Reaction time test

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gold Miner Joe free?

Gold Miner Joe costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bubbles free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Gold Miner Joe or Bubbles?

Bubbles is rated higher. Gold Miner Joe averages 4.8 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Bubbles averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Gold Miner Joe or Bubbles have ads?

Bubbles shows ads; Gold Miner Joe does not.

### Which is updated more often, Gold Miner Joe or Bubbles?

Gold Miner Joe ships an update every 9 months, and Bubbles every 37 months. Most recently, Gold Miner Joe was updated on October 24, 2026 and Bubbles on October 24, 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.*