# Operation Santa vs Sand Hole

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Operation Santa at 100% against Sand Hole's 30%. Operation Santa also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). Sand Hole's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 37 months). On device support there is nothing between them.

Sand Hole is free to download; Operation Santa costs $0.99 up front. Sand Hole sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Operation Santa asks for nothing beyond the download.

Operation Santa holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sand Hole has 849 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Operation Santa's written reviews are positive against 30% of Sand Hole's.

Operation Santa ships an update every 37 months, Sand Hole every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Operation Santa | Sand Hole |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/operation-santa/id483735912/reviews)** | [4.8 (849 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-hole-block-sort-jam/id6795585457/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **849** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 30.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 37 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#171** |
| Size | 10 MB | 354 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Mike Hempfling](https://appshunter.io/developer/422781074) | [Tripledot Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1191319103) |

## What reviewers say

### Operation Santa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/operation-santa/id483735912)

Help Santa deliver presents by launching them into chimneys. Master power and angle to overcome Christmas obstacles as you progress through increasingly challenging levels. Get the gifts delivered on time!

**Highlights:** Physics-based present launching, Adjustable power and angle, Overcome Christmas obstacles, Multiple challenging levels, Simple tap-and-drag controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sand Hole

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-hole-block-sort-jam/id6795585457)

**Currently charting:** #171 Top Free · Puzzle (US App Store)

Engage in a satisfying color-matching puzzle where sand physics add a unique twist. Drag colored blocks to absorb sand of the same hue, clearing the board one level at a time. Strategize your moves to solve increasingly complex arrangements.

**Highlights:** Realistic sand physics simulation, Intuitive one-finger drag controls, Strategically challenging block arrangements, Timed levels with a relaxed start, Helpful boosters: Hammer, Magnet, Time Freeze

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Pack of Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Small Bundle | $5.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack of Coins | $7.99 | one-time |
| Permanent NoAds | $9.99 | one-time |
| Big Pack of Coins | $14.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $14.99 | one-time |
| Big Bundle | $22.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack of Coins | $29.99 | one-time |
| Generous Pack of Coins | $54.99 | one-time |
| Mega Pack of Coins | $99.99 | one-time |
| Mega Bundle | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Operation Santa free?

Operation Santa costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sand Hole free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Operation Santa or Sand Hole?

Operation Santa is rated higher. Operation Santa averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Sand Hole averages 4.8 from 849 ratings.

### Do Operation Santa or Sand Hole have ads?

Sand Hole shows ads; Operation Santa does not.

### Which is updated more often, Operation Santa or Sand Hole?

Operation Santa ships an update every 37 months, and Sand Hole every 6 days. Most recently, Operation Santa was updated on October 23, 2026 and Sand Hole 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.*