Comparison

Bad Apples vs Cut the Rope

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

Head to head
About

Bad Apples

A match-3 puzzle game with a fruity twist. Match good fruit while avoiding rotten ones in a never-ending arcade mode or 100 challenging puzzles. Offers strategic gameplay for all skill levels.

Highlights
  • Match-3 gameplay with a twist
  • Arcade mode with difficulty levels
  • 100 challenging puzzles
  • Unique shake-to-drop mechanics
  • Leaderboards and achievements
Features
Read full description

Bad Apples is a puzzle game that puts a juicy spin on the popular and classic match-3 genre. Match good fruit, but watch out for bad apples! “Rotten fruit has never tasted so good!” ~AppStruck review Bad Apples includes a never-ending arcade mode with four difficulty levels as well as 100 challenging puzzles. This game will entertain even the pickiest puzzle player! Bad Apples offers hours of strategic gameplay for everyone from puzzle masters to casual gamers. Features: -Match-3 gameplay with a juicy twist! -Colorful characters, both good and evil -Unique shake-to-drop iOS mechanics -Universal app – optimized graphics for every iOS device -Leaderboards and achievements through OpenFeint and GameCenter

About

Cut the Rope

Guide a cute monster to eat candy by solving physics-based puzzles. Utilize new gadgets and superpowers to overcome challenges and collect stars. Explore a secret lab with a new scientist character.

Highlights
  • Innovative physics gameplay
  • New gadgets and superpowers
  • Collect gold stars
  • Unlock new levels
  • Adorable character
  • Outstanding graphics
Features
Read full description

NOTE: EXPERIMENTS MAY CAUSE CRAVINGS! A mysterious cardboard box lands on the Professor’s desk… and inside is Om Nom, a tiny monster with an enormous sweet tooth! Naturally, the Professor can’t resist turning this discovery into a series of candy-fueled experiments — and now you get to join the fun. Step into a bustling lab packed with physics-based puzzles. Use rockets, magnets, electricity, ropes, tension, suction cups, water mechanics, robotic arms, ant colonies, and more ingenious contraptions. Your mission sounds simple — get the candy to Om Nom — but each puzzle will test your wits in surprising ways! WHY PLAYERS CAN’T STOP PLAYING: • 200 cleverly designed physics puzzles across 8 inventive level packs • A playful toolbox of gadgets and superpowers to crack tricky challenges • Collect shiny stars, uncover hidden treasures, and unlock bonus levels • Charming animations and cutscenes that bring the Professor’s lab to life • Perfect for fans of logic puzzles, single-player challenges, and clever physics fun Think smart, experiment boldly, and keep Om Nom well-fed in this addictive puzzle adventure. Every level offers a fresh opportunity to test your logic, timing, and creativity in a lab full of delightful surprises! Cut the Rope: Experiments is free to download and play, however, some in-game items can be purchased for real money, including randomised items. For more information, please see our Terms of Use (https://www.zeptolab.com/terms) and Privacy Policy (https://www.zeptolab.com/privacy).

Screenshots

Bad Apples4 screens
Cut the Rope4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Bad Apples at none against Cut the Rope's shown. Bad Apples also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (4.3 vs 13.0). Cut the Rope's advantage is ratings volume (836 vs 51). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Bad Apples sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cut the Rope sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Bad Apples against 4.3 for Cut the Rope. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cut the Rope has 836 ratings behind it against 51, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Bad Apples's written reviews are positive against 75% of Cut the Rope's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bad Apples ships an update monthly, Cut the Rope every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Bad Apples versus Cut the Rope: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBad ApplesCut the Rope
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (51 ratings) — better4.3 (836 ratings)
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews75.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings51836 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS4.3 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB133 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMetaversal StudiosZeptoLab UK Limited

Customer experience

Bad Apples

All ratings51 ratings
Positive78.4%
Neutral11.8%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews196 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral8.7%
Negative21.9%

Cut the Rope

All ratings836 ratings
Positive81.9%
Neutral6.2%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews443 reviews
Positive75.4%
Neutral5.6%
Negative19.0%

User reviews

Bad Apples

From 51 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Entertaining and relaxing game
  • 💡 Unique twist on match-3 gameplay
  • 🎨 Cute and charming graphics
  • 🕹️ Addictive and challenging

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔁 Progress not saved across updates
  • 💰 Paid upgrades required for full experience
  • 🌐 Compatibility issues on some devices

Cut the Rope

From 836 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤩 Amazing game
  • 😊 Cute and fun
  • 🧠 Challenging and engaging
  • 💕 Love Om Nom

Room to improve

  • 😩 Too many ads
  • 💰 Candy/energy system is frustrating
  • 🤬 Subscription model is too expensive

Bugs and requests

Bad Apples

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Game crashes on launch
  • Levels not clearing properly
  • Arcade mode freezing
  • Achievements/progress reset after updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • More free puzzle levels
  • Ability to save progress
  • Option to disable automatic fruit falling
  • iPad version

Cut the Rope

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Levels not saving progress
  • Restore purchases not working
  • Crashes and freezes on some devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • More levels and content
  • Option to remove ads permanently
  • Ability to earn more candies/energy without ads

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Bad Apples

One-time1
  • Ad Removal$0.99
10 purchases

Cut the Rope

One-time10
  • Superpower 20$1.99
  • Candies 25$1.99
  • Big candies sack$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Big superpowers sack$1.99
  • Unlock all level packs + 100 FREE Candies$3.99
  • Huge candies sack$3.99
  • Huge superpowers sack$3.99
  • Jumbo candies sack$7.99
  • Candies Unlimited$14.99
  • Superpower Unlimited$24.99

Questions

Is Bad Apples free?
Bad Apples is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cut the Rope free?
Cut the Rope is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bad Apples or Cut the Rope?
Bad Apples is rated higher. Bad Apples averages 4.4 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Cut the Rope averages 4.3 from 836 ratings.
Do Bad Apples or Cut the Rope have ads?
Cut the Rope shows ads; Bad Apples does not.
Which is updated more often, Bad Apples or Cut the Rope?
Bad Apples ships an update monthly, and Cut the Rope every 4 months. Most recently, Bad Apples was updated on October 19, 2026 and Cut the Rope on October 21, 2026.

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