# Bubble Explode vs Bubble Shooter

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bubble Shooter at every 3 weeks against Bubble Explode's every 2 months. Bubble Shooter also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Bubble Explode's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 65%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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 Shooter sells 6 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. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19K and 10K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Bubble Explode's written reviews are positive against 65% of Bubble Shooter's.

Bubble Explode ships an update every 2 months, Bubble Shooter every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## 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 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-shooter-addictive/id412192869/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 10K |
| Positive reviews | **78.8% of reviews** | 65.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 243 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spooky House Studios UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/376098163) | [Fapps World et Cie S.E.C.S.](https://appshunter.io/developer/881437066) |

## 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 Shooter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-shooter-addictive/id412192869)

Engage in a classic bubble-popping puzzle game where you match three or more bubbles of the same color to clear them and earn points. Enjoy strategic gameplay with various bonus bubbles and compete globally via leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Match 3 or more bubbles, Score points for clearing bubbles, Bonus bubbles for strategic gameplay, Global leaderboards via Game Center, Hours of fun and relaxation

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Package with 100 coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Advertisement-free upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package with 700 coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package with 1600 coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package with 3500 coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Package with 8000 coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive
- 👍 Relaxing
- 👍 Simple and fun
- 👍 Great time waster
- 👍 Classic bubble shooter

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes mid-game
- 🔋 Too many ads
- 💰 Coins/IAPs required to progress
- 🐛 Glitchy after updates
- 🐛 Unreliable shooting mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Bubbles disappearing/changing color
- Game resets progress after updates
- Shooting mechanics not responsive

**Requested features**

- Bigger play area
- Disable bubble movement during gameplay
- Ability to earn coins without ads


## 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 10K 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 3 weeks. Most recently, Bubble Explode was updated on October 15, 2026 and Bubble Shooter on October 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*