Comparison

Canabalt vs Vector Classic

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Canabalt

Escape a collapsing city by running and jumping with a single button. This classic infinite runner offers new game modes, multiple characters, and a thrilling race for survival.

Highlights
  • One-button controls
  • Infinite runner gameplay
  • New game modes
  • Multiple characters
  • High score chasing
  • Two-player option
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

"Fantastic... Super-simple, pixel-perfect, great music and sound." - daringfireball.net "Canabalt is pure genius." -necessarygames.com Escape the destruction of your city with just one button! The game that popularized the infinite runner genre is back with new game modes and support for every dang phone and tablet thingy! ------------------------- "This "daring escape" platformer is simply beautiful and beautifully simple." -Kotaku "It's going to be quite some time before you find something so simple so thrilling again." -Offworld "Canabalt is actually much more intense than you'd assume of a game which requires a single finger to play." -GameSpy ------------------------- Play any of the 8 new game modes with one or two players, dash across rooftops with four different runners, or just chase that high score in the classic futile race for survival. ------------------------- "It's all very lovely and full of poignant subtext. And awesomeness. Canabalt is a prime example of a simple idea executed extremely well." -JayIsGames "I have never seen a concept so richly and successfully realized in such a simple yet stunningly complete form. Canabalt represents the power and potential of small independent games." -gameinmind.com "Music is another component that is just perfect - it enhances the strange and unsettling setting of the game and also gives a sense of speed with a hint of hope that quick feet might be the salvation to the horror." -bartsnews.net

About

Vector Classic

Experience a thrilling arcade-style game where you embody a free runner escaping a totalitarian regime. Utilize parkour-inspired moves to navigate rooftops and evade capture. With intuitive controls and challenging levels, this game offers an exciting chase.

Highlights
  • Parkour-inspired action gameplay
  • Arcade-style chase mechanics
  • Intuitive controls
  • Sophisticated level designs
  • Over 40 challenging levels
  • Lifelike parkour animations
Features
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The best parkour-inspired action game is now available! Vector lets you break free and run! Don't get caught! Vector is an exciting, arcade-style game featuring you as the exceptional free runner who won’t be held down by the system. The game opens with a view into a totalitarian world where freedom and individually is nothing more than a distant dream. But the heart of a freerunner is strong, and you soon break free. Run, vault, slide and climb using extraordinary techniques based on the urban ninja sport of Parkour all while being chased by “Big Brother” who’s sole purpose is to capture you and bring you back. Inspired by the practice and principles of Parkour, Vector’s intuitive controls please players of all levels, and sophisticated level designs challenge the most demanding players with fast-paced timing puzzles as the traceur “flows” over the dystopian rooftops. Game Features: - Arcade gameplay from the makers of the Shadow Fight games - Astoundingly lifelike Parkour-inspired moves made possible by Cascadeur animation tools - 40+ challenging levels - Quick to learn, challenging to master The Press Loves Vector: “The way Vector mimics the movements of real-life parkour practitioners is quite impressive... I can’t wait to be entrapped in Vector’s promising mix of direction and magnitude.” (appadvice.com) “Vector is thrilling, rich in variety and it reminds us of Stick Run, but offers much more elaborate animations.” (fbgamer.de) "The only cool way to run from all your problems." (Gamezebo.com)

Screenshots

Canabalt4 screens
Vector Classic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Vector Classic at 4.9 against Canabalt's 4.3. Vector Classic also leads on ratings volume (3K vs 84) and chart position (#8 vs #139). Canabalt's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Canabalt costs $2.99 and Vector Classic $0.99 up front. Vector Classic sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Canabalt asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Vector Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Vector Classic has 3K ratings behind it against 84, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of Canabalt's written reviews are positive against 55% of Vector Classic's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Canabalt ships an update every 2 months, Vector Classic every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
Canabalt versus Vector Classic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCanabaltVector Classic
Price$2.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.3 (84 ratings)4.9 (3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.1% of reviews — better55.3% of reviews
Number of ratings843K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#139#8 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.2 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB237 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperFinjiNekki Limited

Customer experience

Canabalt

All ratings82 ratings
Positive79.3%
Neutral9.8%
Negative11.0%
Written reviews364 reviews
Positive68.1%
Neutral11.8%
Negative20.1%

Vector Classic

All ratings2,848 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews1,303 reviews
Positive55.3%
Neutral5.8%
Negative39.0%

User reviews

Canabalt

From 84 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Simple yet addictive gameplay
  • 👍 Atmospheric music and sound effects
  • 🎨 Unique retro pixel art style
  • 💡 Randomized obstacles for replayability

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive for a simple game
  • 🔍 Lack of screen optimization for newer devices
  • 🔇 No option to disable music
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs

Vector Classic

From 3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Nostalgic and addictive gameplay
  • 🎨 Stylish visuals and smooth animations
  • 🏃‍♂️ Thrilling parkour experience
  • 💯 Best mobile parkour game

Room to improve

  • 🕹️ Unresponsive controls
  • 🔍 Difficult to complete levels perfectly
  • 💰 Ads in a paid game
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs

Bugs and requests

Canabalt

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on iOS 14
  • Sound effects not working on some devices
  • High scores not displaying correctly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to turn off music
  • More game modes and levels
  • Online leaderboards and achievements
  • Controller support

Vector Classic

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Game crashes on launch or during loading
  • Trick activation not working as expected
  • Levels not loading or progressing properly
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Checkpoint system to avoid restarting levels
  • Endless mode or level creator
  • More customization options for the character
  • Ability to play own music in the background

In-app purchases

None

Canabalt

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Vector Classic

One-time10
  • 2.000 coins$0.99
  • 5,000 Coins$0.99
  • 10,000 Coins$1.99
Show 7 more
  • 6.000 coins$2.99
  • 15,000 Coins$2.99
  • 10.000 coins$4.99
  • 25,000 Coins$4.99
  • 22.000 coins$9.99
  • 55,000 Coins$9.99
  • 85,000 Coins$14.99

Questions

Is Canabalt free?
Canabalt costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Vector Classic free?
Vector Classic costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Canabalt or Vector Classic?
Vector Classic is rated higher. Canabalt averages 4.3 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Vector Classic averages 4.9 from 3K ratings.
Do Canabalt or Vector Classic have ads?
Vector Classic shows ads; Canabalt does not.
Which is updated more often, Canabalt or Vector Classic?
Canabalt ships an update every 2 months, and Vector Classic every 4 months. Most recently, Canabalt was updated on October 23, 2026 and Vector Classic on October 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Canabalt or Vector Classic?
Canabalt currently peaks at #139 in the App Store charts, and Vector Classic at #8. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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