Comparison

Pinochle+ vs SkatGenius

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

Head to head
About

Pinochle+

Enjoy a classic card game with this ad-free and tracking-free application. Play single- or double-deck games with customizable options, including bidding and special scoring. The app is frequently updated with user-requested features and AI enhancements.

Highlights
  • No ads, tracking, or subscriptions
  • Single- or double-deck play
  • Configurable bidding options
  • Meld and 'shoot the moon' scoring
  • AI improvements
  • User-suggested features
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This is a no-ads, no-tracking, no-subscriptions version of the first and most popular pinochle app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Play single- or double-deck with configurable options including meld bids and shoot the moon. Pinochle Plus is updated frequently with user-suggested features and AI improvements. To try before you buy, see our free, ad-supported Pinochle app. If you prefer, our other pinochle app with no advertising, Pinochle Gold, has more card backs and tabletops to choose from, and adds support for several languages. Pinochle is a card game played with a 48- or 80-card deck of 9s, 10s, jacks, queens, kings and aces. The game consists of a repeating sequence of bidding (for the right to name the trump suit and optionally to pass cards), melding, and trick-taking. Players score points by melding various card combinations and by taking tricks. In this version, one human player (South) plays with a computer partner (North) and two computer opponents (West and East). BIDDING: Each player bids the number of points she thinks she can make with her hand. Player to the dealer's left is required to bid, and bidding proceeds to the left. Players who pass are out of the bidding for that hand. A typical high bid is 35 points (for 48 cards) or 60 (for 80 cards). High bidder names the trump suit for the hand and optionally exchanges cards with her partner. MELDING: Players get points by showing various card combinations. A run (or straight) in the trump suit is worth 15 points. Aces in all four suits is 10 points. Pinochle (queen of spades and jack of diamonds) is 4 points, or 30 points for double pinochle (two of each). TRICKS: Play begins with the high bidder, and proceeds around the table to the left, 4 cards per trick. Each trick has a winner, who gets 1 point per ace, ten or king. SCORING: If the high bidder fails to make the bid (his team's total meld plus trick points is less than the bid), the bid amount is subtracted from the team score. Play continues until one team goes out.

About

SkatGenius

Master the popular card game Skat with this app. Challenge other players nearby offline, compete in daily challenges for leaderboards, and design your own custom playing cards with personal images. Enjoy ad-free entertainment with realistic animations and stereo sound.

Highlights
  • Smart and fast AI opponent
  • Card designer for custom cards
  • Offline multiplayer mode
  • Daily challenges and leaderboards
  • Realistic card animations
  • Simple touch gestures
  • High-resolution graphics
Features
Read full description

If you’re a fan of Skat — the most popular card game in German-speaking countries — this Skat app has got you covered! Getting the hang of this Skat game is a breeze, but beating it is a whole different story. Are you ready to take on the challenge? This app not only tests your skills but also lets you challenge other Skat players nearby. You can play Skat directly with other players right where you are, without needing an internet connection! It’s much quicker than a slow internet and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Or, you play the league of Skat champions where you can accept daily challenges and discover who’s truly the best at the game. Here you can prove that you are smarter than the competition. Your results are published in daily and weekly leaderboards. Playing Skat with your own cards can be a lot more fun! Instead of using regular playing cards, you can design your own. It’s super easy to create your unique cards. For example, if you’re not a fan of the standard pictures on the queens, kings and jacks, you can swap them out with your favourite images from your photo library. The sky’s the limit for your creativity! Here’s what this Skat app has to offer: - Smart and fast AI - A card designer to create your personal playing cards - Ad-free entertainment - Realistic card animations - Simple touch gestures for easy game control - Amazing stereo sound effects - High-resolution graphics - Multiplayer support (play against other players nearby) - Daily challenges - Worldwide leaderboards - Bilingual (English or German) - Automatically supports landscape and portrait mode - Optimised for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch - … Give it a try! There are six free games every day to help you get a feel for the fun. You can also buy an auto-renewing subscription through an In-App purchase to enjoy the game without any interruptions. * Auto-renewable subscription * Only $1.99 per year * Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. * Current subscription may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. If you want to know more about this Skat app, please visit the homepage (https://www.skatgenie.de/index_eng.html). You will also find the privacy policy (https://www.skatgenie.de/privacy/privacy_policy_english.html) and the terms of service for this Skat app (https://www.skatgenie.de/terms/terms_english.html).

Screenshots

Pinochle+4 screens
SkatGenius4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pinochle+ at none against SkatGenius's 1. Pinochle+ also leads on chart position (#184 vs unranked). SkatGenius's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and 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

Pinochle+ costs $4.99 and SkatGenius $1.99 up front. SkatGenius sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. Pinochle+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pinochle+ ships an update every 3 months, SkatGenius every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Pinochle+ versus SkatGenius: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPinochle+SkatGenius
Price$4.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#184 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB125 MB
Age rating4+12+
Developerfishdog.netTorsten Palfner

Customer experience

Pinochle+

All ratings1,459 ratings
Positive94.9%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral11.4%
Negative11.4%

SkatGenius

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

Bugs and requests

Pinochle+

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Partner passes good cards like aces and trumps
  • Opponents seem to get better hands and meld
  • Bidding and meld calculations are inconsistent
  • Occasional crashes and freezes

Requested features

8 requests
  • Option to not pass cards
  • Ability to bid in larger increments
  • Show meld for all players at once
  • Implement more realistic bidding and playing strategies
  • Add online multiplayer mode
Show 3 more
  • Allow players to choose their partners
  • Add option to require 20 pointers to score
  • Improve card layout to avoid obscuring important information

SkatGenius

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Pinochle+

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

SkatGenius

Subscriptions1
  • Yearly Subscription$1.991 Year

Questions

Is Pinochle+ free?
Pinochle+ costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SkatGenius free?
SkatGenius costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do Pinochle+ or SkatGenius have ads?
Neither Pinochle+ nor SkatGenius shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pinochle+ or SkatGenius?
Pinochle+ ships an update every 3 months, and SkatGenius every 2 months. Most recently, Pinochle+ was updated on November 1, 2026 and SkatGenius on November 2, 2026.

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