# The Marimo vs Parakeet Pet

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Marimo at every 3 months against Parakeet Pet's every 27 months. The Marimo also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). Parakeet Pet's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (295 vs 16). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Parakeet Pet holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Parakeet Pet has 295 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of The Marimo's written reviews are positive against 84% of Parakeet Pet's.

The Marimo ships an update every 3 months, Parakeet Pet every 27 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Marimo | Parakeet Pet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-marimo/id398361669/reviews) | **[4.6 (295 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parakeet-pet/id1195870574/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **295** |
| Positive reviews | 79.6% of reviews | **84.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 27 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kosuke Ogawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/379825481) | [Hiroki Yamada](https://appshunter.io/developer/491381849) |

## What reviewers say

### The Marimo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-marimo/id398361669)

Care for a virtual green ball creature that grows over time. Keep its environment clean and provide light to ensure its survival. Customize its appearance and interact with it through various gestures.

**Highlights:** Virtual pet care, Growth simulation, Environment maintenance, Customization options, Interactive controls, Social sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Parakeet Pet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parakeet-pet/id1195870574)

Raise a cute virtual parakeet on your smartphone. This simple game involves feeding and cleaning your pet regularly. It's a soothing and therapeutic way to pass the time, perfect for all ages.

**Highlights:** Raise a virtual parakeet, Feed and clean your pet, Watch cute parakeet movements, Name your parakeet, Real-time pet growth tracking, Share photos of your pet, Receive feeding/cleaning reminders

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🥰 Cute and calming parakeet game
- 👍 Realistic parakeet behavior
- 🎶 Peaceful background music
- 🦜 Reminds users of their real-life parakeets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Lack of interactivity and activities
- 😢 Parakeet can die if neglected
- 🙄 Boring after a short time
- 🙃 Ads can be annoying

**Reported bugs**

- Progress can be accidentally reset
- Parakeet can die too easily if user is away for a few days

**Requested features**

- Add more interactive features like mini-games
- Allow customization of parakeet color and cage
- Introduce multiple parakeets or a breeding system
- Expand the content and gameplay to prevent boredom


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Marimo free?

The Marimo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Parakeet Pet free?

Parakeet Pet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Marimo or Parakeet Pet?

Parakeet Pet is rated higher. The Marimo averages 4.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Parakeet Pet averages 4.6 from 295 ratings.

### Do The Marimo or Parakeet Pet have ads?

Both The Marimo and Parakeet Pet show ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Marimo or Parakeet Pet?

The Marimo ships an update every 3 months, and Parakeet Pet every 27 months. Most recently, The Marimo was updated on October 26, 2026 and Parakeet Pet on October 26, 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.*