Comparison

iBuilder vs Shutterbugs

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iBuilder

This is a creative building game where you can construct anything you imagine using over 60 block types. Design entire cities with customizable terrain, realistic graphics, and dynamic environmental effects.

Highlights
  • Build castles, docks, mansions, and more
  • Over 60 different block types
  • Random terrain generation
  • Customizable island size and vegetation
  • 360-degree camera control
  • Realistic water, sky, and sun effects
  • Save up to 3 worlds
Features
Read full description

iBuilder is the ultimate building game! Build castles, docks, mansions, seawalls, towers, and anything else you can imagine. Use over 60 different types of blocks to build your own city and your own world! iBuilder is an incredible construction game that features: - Random terrain generation - Choose the number of islands and their height and width - Choose the number of vegetation on each island With iBuilder, you can quickly design an entire city with blocks, using our simple interface. You can move the camera 360 degrees, zoom, and pan in all directions. The game features realistic water effects, sky movement, and the sun even rotates throughout the day! The building materials are cement, brick, glass, tile, grass, bushes, rusted steel, stainless steel, gravel, dirt, sand, rock, and much more! iBuilder features: - Slots to save 3 worlds - Choose any block texture you want - Advanced OpenGL graphics with shading - Music and sound effects - High-resolution textures - Made for all iOS devices iBuilder is brought to you by the makers of iRollerCoaster and iBASEjump. Have fun with iBuilder and build your dreams!

About

Shutterbugs

Explore the Smithsonian's National Zoo and capture photos of animals in motion. This game teaches about movement and motion through interactive play with various zoo creatures. Printable coloring pages of your favorite animals are also included.

Highlights
  • Animal photography
  • Learn about movement
  • Explore National Zoo
  • Printable coloring pages
  • Interactive gameplay
Features
Read full description

Lions! Pandas! Naked mole rats? Come visit them all at Smithsonian’s National Zoo. We are on the lookout for animals that are swimming, running, wiggling, and stomping. Grab a camera and take some pictures of animals on the move! Designed for the home and classroom by the Smithsonian Science Education Center and Filament Games, this game teaches students how to describe movement and motion while visiting rare animals at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Each animal has coloring-page printouts, so you can print and color your favorite critter.

Screenshots

iBuilder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shutterbugs at 75% against iBuilder's 16%. Shutterbugs also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). iBuilder's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iBuilder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shutterbugs asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shutterbugs holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of iBuilder's written reviews are positive against 75% of Shutterbugs's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iBuilder ships an update every 29 months, Shutterbugs every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
iBuilder versus Shutterbugs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriBuilderShutterbugs
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (12 ratings)4.2 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.4% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 29 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.64.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSea Venture LLCSmithsonian Institution

Customer experience

iBuilder

All ratings12 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews195 reviews
Positive16.4%
Neutral7.7%
Negative75.9%

Shutterbugs

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

iBuilder

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Blocks disappearing after placement
  • Inability to delete or move placed blocks

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to modify terrain
  • Addition of characters and wildlife
  • More building options and tools

Shutterbugs

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

iBuilder

One-time1
  • iBuilder$1.99
None

Shutterbugs

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iBuilder free?
iBuilder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shutterbugs free?
Shutterbugs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iBuilder or Shutterbugs?
Shutterbugs is rated higher. iBuilder averages 2.2 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Shutterbugs averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.
Do iBuilder or Shutterbugs have ads?
Neither iBuilder nor Shutterbugs shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iBuilder or Shutterbugs?
iBuilder ships an update every 29 months, and Shutterbugs every 3 weeks. Most recently, iBuilder was updated on June 11, 2026 and Shutterbugs on September 16, 2026.

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