# The Marimo vs Weird Aquarium

The clearest difference is rating: Weird Aquarium at 4.8 against The Marimo's 4.4. Weird Aquarium also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 16). The Marimo's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). 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.

Weird Aquarium holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Weird Aquarium has 2.5K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 79% and 78% positive.

The Marimo ships an update every 3 months, Weird Aquarium fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Marimo | Weird Aquarium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-marimo/id398361669/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weird-aquarium/id1434664247/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 78.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kosuke Ogawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/379825481) | [Ryota Kikuchi](https://appshunter.io/developer/871799640) |

## 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


### Weird Aquarium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weird-aquarium/id1434664247)

Build and manage a unique 3D aquarium filled with bizarre creatures. Collect and raise unusual animals and monsters, and decorate your tank to attract even more visitors. Enjoy a relaxing and simple gameplay experience where you can earn energy from your creatures to purchase new items.

**Highlights:** Collect bizarre creatures, Raise unusual animals and monsters, 3D creature models with actions, Decorate your aquarium, Attract new creatures, Earn energy from creatures

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Addictive and fun
- 🤩 Unique and creative concept
- 😊 Relaxing and entertaining
- 💕 Charming and adorable creatures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow progression and limited content
- 🙄 Repetitive and lacking in variety
- 💰 Ads and in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch or during gameplay
- Tutorial issues and inability to progress
- Ads not working or causing crashes
- Syncing and save data problems

**Requested features**

- More creature and decoration options
- Ability to interact with creatures and objects
- Multiplayer or social features
- Improved performance and stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Marimo free?

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

### Is Weird Aquarium free?

Weird Aquarium is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Marimo or Weird Aquarium?

Weird Aquarium is rated higher. The Marimo averages 4.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Weird Aquarium averages 4.8 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do The Marimo or Weird Aquarium have ads?

Both The Marimo and Weird Aquarium show ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Marimo or Weird Aquarium?

The Marimo ships an update every 3 months, and Weird Aquarium fortnightly. Most recently, The Marimo was updated on October 29, 2026 and Weird Aquarium on October 29, 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.*