# Bad Apples vs Hocus Puzzle

The clearest difference is ads: Bad Apples at none against Hocus Puzzle's shown. Bad Apples also leads on iOS requirement (4.3 vs 15.0). Hocus Puzzle's advantage is review sentiment (93% vs 69%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bad Apples sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hocus Puzzle sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Bad Apples against 4.5 for Hocus Puzzle. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 51 and 41 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Bad Apples's written reviews are positive against 93% of Hocus Puzzle's.

Bad Apples ships an update monthly, Hocus Puzzle fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bad Apples | Hocus Puzzle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bad-apples/id335789094/reviews) | **[4.5 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hocus-puzzle/id952183548/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **51** | 41 |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **92.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 265 MB |
| Requires iOS | **4.3** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Metaversal Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/312422835) | [Bigpoint GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/421914256) |

## What reviewers say

### Bad Apples

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bad-apples/id335789094)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad Removal | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- More free puzzle levels
- Ability to save progress
- Option to disable automatic fruit falling
- iPad version


### Hocus Puzzle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hocus-puzzle/id952183548)

Embark on a magical puzzle adventure to restore a dried-up river by mixing potions and casting spells. Explore enchanting worlds, defeat villains, and challenge friends on leaderboards. Collect costumes for powerful advantages in over 200 levels.

**Highlights:** Mix and match potions, Cast spells, Over 200 spellbinding levels, Challenge friends, Collect costumes, Leaderboards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Welcome Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack n°1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Special Pack 5 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Special Pack 10 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack n°2 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Win The Level | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack n°3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack n°4 | $16.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack n°5 | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive game
- 🎨 Great graphics and visuals
- 🕹️ Challenging but enjoyable gameplay
- 🕰️ Good time-passer
- 🎨 Cute and colorful design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔍 Lack of support and explanation for higher levels
- 🔋 Can be draining on battery

**Reported bugs**

- Lottery wheel not working properly
- Game freezing during updates
- Losing progress after updates

**Requested features**

- More levels and content updates
- Ability to convert coins to gems
- Option to disable ads or in-app purchases


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bad Apples free?

Bad Apples is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hocus Puzzle free?

Hocus Puzzle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bad Apples or Hocus Puzzle?

Hocus Puzzle is rated higher. Bad Apples averages 4.4 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Hocus Puzzle averages 4.5 from 41 ratings.

### Do Bad Apples or Hocus Puzzle have ads?

Hocus Puzzle shows ads; Bad Apples does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bad Apples or Hocus Puzzle?

Bad Apples ships an update monthly, and Hocus Puzzle fortnightly. Most recently, Bad Apples was updated on October 15, 2026 and Hocus Puzzle on October 17, 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.*