# Bubble Explode vs Bubble Shooter

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bubble Explode at every 2 months against Bubble Shooter's every 15 months. Bubble Explode also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (19K vs 1.3K). Bubble Shooter's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bubble Explode sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Bubble Shooter sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bubble Explode holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bubble Explode has 19K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Bubble Explode's written reviews are positive against 86% of Bubble Shooter's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Bubble Explode ships an update every 2 months, Bubble Shooter every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bubble Explode | Bubble Shooter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-explode-pop-puzzle/id376098160/reviews)** | [4.4 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-shooter-wish-to-blast/id1188273490/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 78.6% of reviews | **86.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 243 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spooky House Studios UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/376098163) | [Bubble Blast LTD. - Fun free music games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1188273489) |

## What reviewers say

### Bubble Explode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-explode-pop-puzzle/id376098160)

Engage in a captivating bubble-popping puzzle experience with chain reactions and satisfying animations. Explore numerous game modes, unlock new skins, and compete globally. Save your progress and customize your gameplay speed.

**Highlights:** Chain reaction bubble explosions, Multiple game modes, Unlockable skins, Global online scoreboards, Adjustable animation speed, Undo moves

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium User 1 Month | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium User 1 Week free trial | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| 1000 Pearls | $1.99 | one-time |
| 30 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bubble Explode Ad Free | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily Offer x3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Pearls | $5.99 | one-time |
| 25 000 Pearls | $19.99 | one-time |
| 150 000 Pearls | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1 Million Pearls | $499.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and relaxing games
- 🧠 Challenging and engaging
- 🎨 Great graphics and visuals
- 🎶 Enjoyable music and sounds
- 💰 Generous with free pearls/coins

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔄 Forced ads and in-app purchases
- 🤔 Confusing or unfair game mechanics
- 🕰️ Slow or unresponsive gameplay
- 🔍 Cluttered and distracting UI

**Reported bugs**

- Wildcard/power-up reloading issues
- Incorrect or missing achievements
- Uneven difficulty spikes in some games
- Touchscreen calibration problems
- Forced bonus levels disrupting gameplay

**Requested features**

- More free game modes and content
- Ability to disable ads and suggestions
- Improved scoring and progression systems
- Better syncing across devices
- More customization options


### Bubble Shooter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-shooter-wish-to-blast/id1188273490)

Engage in a classic bubble-popping adventure across over 1000 levels. Match and burst colorful bubbles to rescue trapped fish and animals. Enjoy vibrant graphics and cheerful music in this addictive puzzle game.

**Highlights:** Over 1000 bubble-blasting levels, Rescue trapped fish and animals, Aim and shoot to match 3+ bubbles, Powerful boosters like Rainbow and Fire Bubble, Beautiful graphics and animations, Easy to pick up and play

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tiny Pack of Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Little Pack of Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pack of Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Big Pack of Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack of Coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing
- ⏱️ Great time-killer
- 🧠 Challenging and mentally engaging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive ads and in-app purchases
- 🔄 Repetitive gameplay
- 🔒 Lack of progression saving
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes at higher levels
- Inconsistent difficulty progression

**Requested features**

- More power-ups and special abilities
- Ability to save progress and resume levels
- Reduced ads or ad-free option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bubble Explode free?

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

### Is Bubble Shooter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bubble Explode or Bubble Shooter?

Bubble Explode is rated higher. Bubble Explode averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Bubble Shooter averages 4.4 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Bubble Explode or Bubble Shooter have ads?

Both Bubble Explode and Bubble Shooter show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bubble Explode or Bubble Shooter?

Bubble Explode ships an update every 2 months, and Bubble Shooter every 15 months. Most recently, Bubble Explode was updated on November 11, 2026 and Bubble Shooter on November 2, 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.*