# Bubble Explode vs Bubble Star Journey

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Bubble Explode at 19K against Bubble Star Journey's 117. Bubble Explode also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bubble Explode sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Bubble Star Journey sells 13 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 — 4.6 for Bubble Explode against 4.7 for Bubble Star Journey. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bubble Explode has 19K ratings behind it against 117, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Bubble Explode's written reviews are positive against 71% of Bubble Star Journey's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bubble Explode | Bubble Star Journey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-explode-pop-puzzle/id376098160/reviews) | **[4.7 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-star-journey/id1567778941/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 117 |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 244 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spooky House Studios UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/376098163) | [GoEun Choi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526619924) |

## 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 (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium User 1 Month | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium User 1 Week free trial | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium User 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| 1000 Pearls | $1.99 | one-time |
| 30 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Daily offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| 80 Gems | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bubble Explode Ad Free | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5 000 Pearls 30% OFF | $5.99 | one-time |
| Daily Offer x3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Pearls | $5.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Pearls | $9.99 | 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 Star Journey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-star-journey/id1567778941)

Aim and shoot colorful bubbles to rescue cute animals in this engaging puzzle game. With over 300 levels and offline play, it's a fun and relaxing way to train your brain and pass the time.

**Highlights:** Over 300 puzzle levels, Animal rescue modes, Offline play (no WiFi needed), Hand-made level design, Daily challenges, Free aim feature, Switchable bubble colors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 250 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| 780 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1560 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Weekend Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1350 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2700 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2850 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 5700 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 6000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 12000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bubble Explode free?

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

### Is Bubble Star Journey free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bubble Explode or Bubble Star Journey?

Bubble Star Journey is rated higher. Bubble Explode averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Bubble Star Journey averages 4.7 from 117 ratings.

### Do Bubble Explode or Bubble Star Journey have ads?

Both Bubble Explode and Bubble Star Journey show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bubble Explode or Bubble Star Journey?

Bubble Explode ships an update every 2 months, and Bubble Star Journey every 2 months. Most recently, Bubble Explode was updated on September 24, 2026 and Bubble Star Journey on September 9, 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.*