# Save The Pencil vs Mini Sudoku!

The clearest difference is price: Mini Sudoku! at Free against Save The Pencil's $2.99. Mini Sudoku! also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). Save The Pencil's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Mini Sudoku! is free to download; Save The Pencil costs $2.99 up front. Save The Pencil sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Mini Sudoku! sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mini Sudoku! holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 32 respectively.

Save The Pencil ships an update every 6 weeks, Mini Sudoku! fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Save The Pencil | Mini Sudoku! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.4 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/save-the-pencil/id475708666/reviews) | **[4.8 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-sudoku/id6752538448/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **65** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | 82.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 107 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Perfect Dimension](https://appshunter.io/developer/448146469) | [Kuantark Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509967573) |

## What reviewers say

### Save The Pencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/save-the-pencil/id475708666)

Guide a pencil lead through challenging puzzles by drawing precise routes. Avoid stationery hazards and defeat bosses across numerous levels. Earn in-game currency for helpful extras in this remastered puzzle adventure.

**Highlights:** 120 handcrafted campaign levels, 50 bonus levels, Collect three stars per level, Dodge stationery hazards, Boss battles at chapter ends, Earn and spend blue dots for extras, Remastered artwork and audio

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1,000 Blue Dot Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 5,000 Blue Dot Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Blue Dot Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| 50,000 Blue Dot Pack | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Challenging but rewarding levels
- 💎 Cute and creative visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Unresponsive controls and delayed input
- 💰 Paywall for additional content

**Reported bugs**

- Rulers and obstacles glitching out
- App crashing on launch or during gameplay
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- More levels and content updates
- Improved touch sensitivity
- Ability to skip difficult levels


### Mini Sudoku!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-sudoku/id6752538448)

Explore a variety of Sudoku puzzles, from beginner 6x6 grids to advanced 9x9 challenges. Enjoy unique modes like Killer Sudoku and Jigsaw, with helpful features like smart highlighting and an advanced notes system.

**Highlights:** Multiple Sudoku game modes (6x6, 9x9, Killer, Jigsaw), Timed challenge mode, Smart visual feedback and color highlighting, Advanced notes system, Undo functionality, Auto conflict detection, Light and Dark mode support

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $5.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Save The Pencil free?

Save The Pencil costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Mini Sudoku! free?

Mini Sudoku! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku!?

Mini Sudoku! is rated higher. Save The Pencil averages 3.4 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Mini Sudoku! averages 4.8 from 32 ratings.

### Do Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku! have ads?

Mini Sudoku! shows ads; Save The Pencil does not.

### Which is updated more often, Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku!?

Save The Pencil ships an update every 6 weeks, and Mini Sudoku! fortnightly. Most recently, Save The Pencil was updated on November 8, 2026 and Mini Sudoku! on November 5, 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.*
