# GTA vs Payback 2

The clearest difference is ads: GTA at none against Payback 2's shown. Payback 2's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 58%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GTA sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Payback 2 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Payback 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Payback 2 has 55K ratings behind it against 3.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of GTA's written reviews are positive against 85% of Payback 2's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | GTA | Payback 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gta-chinatown-wars/id344186162/reviews) | **[4.7 (55K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payback-2/id570426586/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.9K | **55K** |
| Positive reviews | 57.9% of reviews | **85.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#101** |
| Size | 915 MB | 179 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Rockstar Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/330049731) | [Apex Designs Games LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684922634) |

## What reviewers say

### GTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gta-chinatown-wars/id344186162)

Embark on a mission of revenge and riches in a dangerous city after a family tragedy. Experience a gripping story of honor and survival in a morally bankrupt world. Play a free trial before committing to the full game.

**Highlights:** Open-world exploration, Story-driven missions, Vehicle combat, Gang warfare, Criminal underworld, Free trial available

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GTA: Chinatown Wars Full Game | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nostalgic GTA experience
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Unique drug dealing mechanics
- 🎮 Great for mobile devices
- 💰 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🎮 Challenging controls
- 🔍 Outdated graphics
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 💰 Paid content not clearly disclosed

**Reported bugs**

- Molotov cocktail equipping issue
- Inability to move character with analog stick
- Crashes on certain devices and iOS versions
- Graphical glitches on iPhone X and newer
- Saved game data being deleted

**Requested features**

- Add cloud save support
- Improve controller compatibility
- Increase frame rate and resolution
- Add new content updates
- Optimize for larger screens


### Payback 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payback-2/id570426586)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Free · Racing (US App Store)

Experience intense, action-packed gameplay with a variety of campaign events, including gang battles, races, and tank duels. Compete with friends and millions of players online, or create your own custom events with diverse cities, modes, and vehicles.

**Highlights:** Varied campaign events, Extensive online multiplayer, Hourly, daily, and weekly challenges, Custom event creation, Diverse cities, game modes, and vehicles

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 200 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coin Doubler | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1200 Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Episode 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Episode 3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Coins | $7.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Custom Mode | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Coins | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Smooth gameplay
- 🚀 Offline playability
- 💡 Customizable game modes
- 🎨 Good graphics and visuals
- 🕹️ Fun and addictive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 📺 Too many intrusive ads
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔨 Unfinished or unpolished features
- 🚗 Unrealistic vehicle physics

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes
- Vehicles and physics issues
- Multiplayer matchmaking problems
- Inconsistent or missing game progress
- Unresponsive controls and input issues

**Requested features**

- Add more vehicles and customization options
- Improve graphics and animations
- Implement a story mode or campaign
- Add more game modes and multiplayer features
- Reduce the number of ads or make them less intrusive


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GTA free?

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

### Is Payback 2 free?

Payback 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, GTA or Payback 2?

Payback 2 is rated higher. GTA averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.9K ratings, while Payback 2 averages 4.7 from 55K ratings.

### Do GTA or Payback 2 have ads?

Payback 2 shows ads; GTA does not.

### Which is updated more often, GTA or Payback 2?

GTA ships an update every 2 months, and Payback 2 every 2 months. Most recently, GTA was updated on November 5, 2026 and Payback 2 on November 5, 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.*