# Roblox vs The Phenomenon

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Phenomenon at none against Roblox's 16. Roblox's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.5 vs 4.0). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Roblox sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. The Phenomenon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Roblox holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roblox has 20M ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Roblox ships an update every 6 days, The Phenomenon every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Roblox | The Phenomenon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (20M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roblox/id431946152/reviews)** | [4.0 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-phenomenon/id1288758206/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **20M** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | — | 54.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#1** | — |
| Size | 220 MB | 339 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Roblox Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/431946155) | [Kokots LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1814814239) |

## What reviewers say

### Roblox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roblox/id431946152)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Free · Action, #1 Top Free · Adventure, #1 Top Grossing · Action, #1 Top Grossing · Adventure, #2 Top Grossing · Games, #6 Top Free · Games, #11 Top Grossing, #43 Top Free (US App Store)

Explore millions of immersive 3D multiplayer experiences created by a global community. Play games, roleplay, compete, or create your own virtual worlds. Customize avatars and connect with friends across various devices.

**Highlights:** Discover millions of user-created experiences, Create and share your own games, Customize avatars with clothing and accessories, Play with friends across multiple devices, Multiplayer battles and role-playing games, In-app chat and voice communication (age-verified)

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Roblox Premium 450 | $4.99 | per month |
| 80 ROBUX | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium 80 Robux | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium 88 Subscribed | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium 160 Robux | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium 240 Robux | $2.99 | one-time |
| Premium 320 Robux | $3.99 | one-time |
| 400 Robux Premium | $4.99 | one-time |
| 440 Robux Subscribed | $4.99 | one-time |
| Roblox Premium 450 One Month | $4.99 | one-time |
| 800 ROBUX | $9.99 | one-time |
| 800 Robux Premium | $9.99 | one-time |
| 880 Robux Subscribed | $9.99 | one-time |
| Roblox Premium 1000 One Month | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1700 Robux Premium | $19.99 | one-time |
| Roblox Premium 2200 One Month | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Endless games and experiences
- 🤝 Ability to make virtual friends
- 🎨 Customizable avatars
- 🎮 Wide variety of game genres
- 👍 Fun and engaging for all ages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Ineffective moderation and reporting system
- 💰 Expensive in-game purchases
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific games
- 🤔 Confusing chat/tag system
- 🔒 Concerns about online safety and predators

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent disconnections and server issues
- Glitches that delete purchased items
- Inconsistent chat filtering and tagging

**Requested features**

- Ability to earn Robux through gameplay
- Improved search and discovery for games
- More free avatar customization options
- Better parental controls and monitoring
- Faster response to reports of inappropriate content


### The Phenomenon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-phenomenon/id1288758206)

Embark on an episodic survival horror adventure as a paranormal researcher. Explore vast maps, utilize specialized devices, and confront intelligent creatures. Engage in cross-platform multiplayer and compete for global leaderboard dominance.

**Highlights:** Cross-platform multiplayer, Episodic survival horror, Paranormal research devices, Smart AI creatures, Global leaderboards, High replayability

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Realistic graphics
- 🤩 Immersive horror experience
- 💯 Excellent game quality
- 🥰 Fun to play with friends

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Audio issues (can't hear audio)
- 🌚 Game too dark/needs better lighting
- 🕹️ Buggy controls and camera
- ⏱️ Limited playtime due to in-game currency system

**Reported bugs**

- Multiplayer mode not working properly
- Inability to change language settings
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Graphical glitches and visual bugs

**Requested features**

- Add 3-4 player multiplayer mode
- Implement a save/checkpoint system
- Improve tutorial and onboarding
- Optimize performance on older devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Roblox free?

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

### Is The Phenomenon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Roblox or The Phenomenon?

Roblox is rated higher. Roblox averages 4.5 out of 5 from 20M ratings, while The Phenomenon averages 4.0 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Roblox or The Phenomenon have ads?

The Phenomenon shows ads; Roblox does not.

### Which is updated more often, Roblox or The Phenomenon?

Roblox ships an update every 6 days, and The Phenomenon every 5 weeks. Most recently, Roblox was updated on October 25, 2026 and The Phenomenon on October 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.*