# PopStar! Lite vs Star Blast

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PopStar! Lite at none against Star Blast's 16. PopStar! Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 15.6). Star Blast's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (558 vs 46). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Star Blast sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. PopStar! Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for PopStar! Lite against 4.5 for Star Blast. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Blast has 558 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of PopStar! Lite's written reviews are positive against 76% of Star Blast's.

PopStar! Lite ships an update every 2 months, Star Blast every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PopStar! Lite | Star Blast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popstar-lite/id357538314/reviews) | **[4.5 (558 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-blast-diamond-dash-blitz/id954199060/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 46 | **558** |
| Positive reviews | 70.9% of reviews | **76.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zplay (Beijing) Info. Tech. Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/531022725) | [StarRiver Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/563494178) |

## What reviewers say

### PopStar! Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popstar-lite/id357538314)

This is a casual puzzle game where players tap groups of two or more same-colored blocks to clear them. The goal is to achieve target scores to advance through stages, with bonuses awarded for clearing all blocks. It offers strategic, addictive, and challenging fun for all ages.

**Highlights:** Tap same-colored blocks, No time limit, Target points per stage, Scoring bonuses, Autosave functionality, Supports iOS devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Good for time killing
- 👍 Fun and enjoyable
- 👍 Simple to operate
- 👍 Good graphics and sound

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Limited levels in free version
- 👎 Prompts to purchase full version
- 👎 Game crashes frequently
- 👎 Updates make game unplayable
- 👎 Graphics can be unclear or dizzying

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes after update
- Game freezes and closes
- Cannot open the app after update
- Game stalls on iPhone 3s
- Update makes game unplayable

**Requested features**

- Allow playing past level 5 in free version
- Add more levels to the free version
- Revert to older graphics/patterns
- Fix game crashing issues
- Implement an undo function


### Star Blast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-blast-diamond-dash-blitz/id954199060)

Engage in a vibrant block-matching puzzle game with two exciting modes: BLAST and COMBO. Solve puzzles with no time limits or compete against the clock to achieve high scores and unlock new stages. Utilize various boosters to create explosive chain reactions.

**Highlights:** Tap two or more same-colored blocks, No time limit in BLAST mode, Target points to proceed, 60-second COMBO mode, Use boosters like bombs and color splash, Weekly global tournaments, Daily spin to win rewards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Value Bundle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Silver Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| 3300 Silver Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| 6000 Silver Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| 28000 Silver Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Royal Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and addictive game
- 💎 Reminds users of the original Diamond Dash game
- 🕹️ Relaxing and great for passing time
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of explanation on how to play the game
- 🔊 Annoying music and sound effects
- 📺 Too many intrusive ads after each level
- 🔁 Frustrating to have to restart from level 1

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes or doesn't open for some users
- Sound and music settings not working properly
- Glitches in the scoring and progression system

**Requested features**

- Bring back the original Diamond Dash game
- Add more special events and challenges
- Provide an option to turn off hints and suggestions
- Implement a way to continue from where you left off


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PopStar! Lite free?

PopStar! Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Star Blast free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PopStar! Lite or Star Blast?

Star Blast is rated higher. PopStar! Lite averages 4.5 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Star Blast averages 4.5 from 558 ratings.

### Do PopStar! Lite or Star Blast have ads?

Star Blast shows ads; PopStar! Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, PopStar! Lite or Star Blast?

PopStar! Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Star Blast every 9 days. Most recently, PopStar! Lite was updated on October 21, 2026 and Star Blast on November 1, 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.*