# The Marimo vs Cryptid Aquarium

The clearest difference is rating: Cryptid Aquarium at 4.9 against The Marimo's 4.4. Cryptid Aquarium also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (246 vs 16). The Marimo's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cryptid Aquarium sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. The Marimo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cryptid Aquarium holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cryptid Aquarium has 246 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 Cryptid Aquarium's.

The Marimo ships an update every 3 months, Cryptid Aquarium weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Marimo | Cryptid Aquarium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-marimo/id398361669/reviews) | **[4.9 (246 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptid-aquarium/id1522819775/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **246** |
| Positive reviews | 79.6% of reviews | **84.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.2** |
| 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


### Cryptid Aquarium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cryptid-aquarium/id1522819775)

Discover and collect a variety of mysterious creatures, from fish and animals to plants and mushrooms. Feed them to make them multiply, train them for sports competitions, and aim for the top rankings. This game offers a fun and engaging way to pass the time with its free-range breeding and farm-building mechanics.

**Highlights:** Collect diverse creatures, Feed and breed creatures, Train creatures for sports, Compete in rankings, Build creature farms, Free-range breeding

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ルビーx1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| lights | $1.99 | one-time |
| Light | $1.99 | one-time |
| ルビーx6 | $3.99 | one-time |
| ルビーx52 | $26.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Marimo free?

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

### Is Cryptid Aquarium free?

Cryptid Aquarium is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Cryptid Aquarium is rated higher. The Marimo averages 4.4 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Cryptid Aquarium averages 4.9 from 246 ratings.

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

Both The Marimo and Cryptid Aquarium show ads.

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

The Marimo ships an update every 3 months, and Cryptid Aquarium weekly. Most recently, The Marimo was updated on September 22, 2026 and Cryptid Aquarium on September 24, 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.*