# Bubble Explode vs Bubble Shooter 4.0!

The clearest difference is ads: Bubble Shooter 4.0! at none against Bubble Explode's shown. Bubble Shooter 4.0! also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (90% vs 79%). Bubble Explode's advantage is ratings volume (19K vs 34). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 4.0! sells 10 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 4.6 for Bubble Shooter 4.0!. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bubble Explode has 19K ratings behind it against 34, 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 90% of Bubble Shooter 4.0!'s.

Bubble Explode ships an update every 2 months, Bubble Shooter 4.0! fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and August 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bubble Explode | Bubble Shooter 4.0! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-explode-pop-puzzle/id376098160/reviews) | [4.6 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-shooter-40/id951492144/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 78.7% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 244 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spooky House Studios UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/376098163) | [Pedro Navarro](https://appshunter.io/developer/391493904) |

## 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 4.0!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-shooter-40/id951492144)

A classic bubble-popping puzzle game with hundreds of handmade levels and multiple game modes. Enjoy customizable graphics and compete globally for high scores. Play offline anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** 570 handmade levels, Special bubbles with effects, 3 game modes (levels, timed, daily challenge), Offline play supported, Global leaderboards, HD graphics, Customizable appearance

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Pack of Bullion | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Pack of Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Bullion | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Box of Bullion | $5.99 | one-time |
| Big Bag of Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| All Levels | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mountain of Bullion | $13.99 | one-time |
| Big Pack of Coins | $25.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🎯 Challenging levels
- 🕰 Great time-waster
- 👍 Variety of levels and challenges

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚧 Progression blocked by in-app purchases
- 📺 Excessive and disruptive ads
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches with updates
- 🔍 Difficult to earn in-game currency

**Reported bugs**

- Daily rewards not working as expected
- Levels made harder with updates
- Redirects to App Store during gameplay
- Compatibility issues on newer devices

**Requested features**

- More free levels
- Reduce ads or offer ad-free version
- Improve progression system
- Fix bugs and glitches


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bubble Explode free?

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

### Is Bubble Shooter 4.0! free?

Bubble Shooter 4.0! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bubble Explode or Bubble Shooter 4.0!?

Bubble Explode and Bubble Shooter 4.0! are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 19K and 34 ratings respectively.

### Do Bubble Explode or Bubble Shooter 4.0! have ads?

Bubble Explode shows ads; Bubble Shooter 4.0! does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bubble Explode or Bubble Shooter 4.0!?

Bubble Explode ships an update every 2 months, and Bubble Shooter 4.0! fortnightly. Most recently, Bubble Explode was updated on September 30, 2026 and Bubble Shooter 4.0! on August 14, 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.*