# Game Buzzer vs Istanbul

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Istanbul at 73% against Game Buzzer's 29%. Istanbul also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.9) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 12 months). Game Buzzer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and price ($1.99 vs $6.99). On ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Game Buzzer costs $1.99 and Istanbul $6.99 up front. Istanbul sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Game Buzzer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Istanbul holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Istanbul has 458 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Game Buzzer's written reviews are positive against 73% of Istanbul's.

Game Buzzer ships an update every 12 months, Istanbul every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Game Buzzer | Istanbul |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $6.99 |
| Rating | [1.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-buzzer/id484395345/reviews) | **[4.7 (458 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istanbul-digital-edition/id1296756606/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **458** |
| Positive reviews | 29.4% of reviews | **72.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#67** | #89 |
| Size | 66 MB | 451 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cube8, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/484395348) | [Acram Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536417257) |

## What reviewers say

### Game Buzzer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-buzzer/id484395345)

**Currently charting:** #67 Top Paid · Trivia (US App Store)

Host your own game shows or trivia nights with this head-to-head buzzer app. It features an answer timer and scorekeeping to manage competitive play.

**Highlights:** Head-to-head buzzer functionality, Answer timer, Score keeping, Game show hosting, Pub trivia support, VS game racing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Istanbul

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istanbul-digital-edition/id1296756606)

**Currently charting:** #89 Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

Compete as a merchant to collect rubies by trading goods and managing assistants across a bustling bazaar. Strategically move your merchant and assistants through various locations, each offering unique actions. Plan your moves carefully to outmaneuver opponents and achieve victory in this acclaimed board game adaptation.

**Highlights:** Collect rubies by trading goods, Manage merchant and assistants, Explore 16 bazaar locations, Increase wheelbarrow capacity, Acquire special abilities, Play against AI or friends, Cross-platform online multiplayer

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mocha & Baksheesh | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great digital implementation
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visuals
- 🕹️ Smooth gameplay
- 🤖 Challenging AI opponents
- 🕹️ Well-designed user interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs with specific cards/tiles (e.g. 'sell any goods', mosque tile costs)
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices
- 🐛 Issues with online/multiplayer functionality
- 🔋 Battery drain on some devices

**Reported bugs**

- Certain cards/tiles not working as intended
- Game crashing or freezing during play
- Online/multiplayer functionality issues
- Tutorial getting stuck or not working properly

**Requested features**

- Add the Mocha & Baksheesh and Letters & Seals expansions
- Implement a companion tool to randomize the board setup
- Add push notifications for online game turns
- Support for more languages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Game Buzzer free?

Game Buzzer costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Istanbul free?

Istanbul costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Game Buzzer or Istanbul?

Istanbul is rated higher. Game Buzzer averages 1.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Istanbul averages 4.7 from 458 ratings.

### Do Game Buzzer or Istanbul have ads?

Neither Game Buzzer nor Istanbul shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Game Buzzer or Istanbul?

Game Buzzer ships an update every 12 months, and Istanbul every 6 weeks. Most recently, Game Buzzer was updated on November 1, 2026 and Istanbul on November 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Game Buzzer or Istanbul?

Game Buzzer currently peaks at #67 in the App Store charts, and Istanbul at #89. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*