# Bubble Explode vs Star Gems

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Star Gems at none against Bubble Explode's 15. Star Gems also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Bubble Explode's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (19K vs 78). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bubble Explode sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Star Gems asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bubble Explode holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bubble Explode has 19K ratings behind it against 78, 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 Star Gems'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, Star Gems every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bubble Explode | Star Gems |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-explode-pop-puzzle/id376098160/reviews)** | [4.2 (78 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-gems/id528857133/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 78 |
| Positive reviews | 78.7% of reviews | **86.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 243 MB | 102 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) | [Balloon Island Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/630026063) |

## 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


### Star Gems

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-gems/id528857133)

Engage in a fast-paced, strategic puzzle game where you blast aliens by matching colored stars. Avoid letting stars or UFOs reach the top of the screen. Utilize a charged laser gun for emergencies and enjoy playing with your own music.

**Highlights:** Match three or more stars of the same color, Destroy UFOs by popping stars below them, Prevent stars and UFOs from reaching the top, Use a charged laser gun for emergencies, Play with your own music, Autosave game progress

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and fun
- 👍 Addictive and absorbing
- 👍 Great for hand-eye coordination
- 👍 Enjoyable and challenging
- 👍 Simple but exciting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🐛 Freezing and crashing issues
- 🐛 Unresponsive touch screen
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Too many ads and interruptions

**Reported bugs**

- Blocks from previous levels remain on board
- Game freezes or stops completely after updates
- Colors change automatically during gameplay
- Cubes float on top and cannot be eliminated
- Touch screen not responsive on first tap

**Requested features**

- Allow continuing from last level
- Add difficulty settings or level selection
- Improve laser gun recharging mechanics
- Fix issue with blocks from previous levels
- Optimize performance and stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bubble Explode free?

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

### Is Star Gems free?

Star Gems is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Bubble Explode is rated higher. Bubble Explode averages 4.6 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Star Gems averages 4.2 from 78 ratings.

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

Both Bubble Explode and Star Gems show ads.

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

Bubble Explode ships an update every 2 months, and Star Gems every 4 months. Most recently, Bubble Explode was updated on October 20, 2026 and Star Gems on October 15, 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.*