# Gem Towers vs ZenDots

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZenDots at 93% against Gem Towers's 20%. ZenDots also leads on price (Free vs $0.49) and rating (4.7 vs 3.3). Gem Towers's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

ZenDots is free to download; Gem Towers costs $0.49 up front. ZenDots sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Gem Towers asks for nothing beyond the download.

ZenDots holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZenDots has 179 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Gem Towers's written reviews are positive against 93% of ZenDots's.

Gem Towers ships an update every 37 months, ZenDots fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gem Towers | ZenDots |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.49 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gem-towers/id493526977/reviews) | **[4.7 (179 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zendots/id970179258/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **179** |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | **93.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 37 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 16 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mike Hempfling](https://appshunter.io/developer/422781074) | [Little White Bear Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/286331903) |

## What reviewers say

### Gem Towers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gem-towers/id493526977)

A physics-based puzzle game where you strategically break gem towers. The objective is to shatter all green gems while preserving red ones, managing your limited lives. It offers a challenging experience that is simple to learn but difficult to master.

**Highlights:** Physics-based gameplay, Break green gems, Save red gems, Level-based challenges, Life management system, Easy to learn, hard to master

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ZenDots

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zendots/id970179258)

Engage in a playful arcade experience combining pinball mechanics with brick breaker challenges. Use flippers to launch a white dot and clear colored dots from the screen without losing your primary ball.

**Highlights:** Pinball-style gameplay, Brick breaker mechanics, Clear colored dots, Avoid losing white dot, Level-based progression

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10 dots | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100 dots | $2.99 | one-time |
| 500 dots | $5.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 dots | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Relaxing gameplay
- 👍 Simple and easy to play
- 👍 Addictive and fun
- 👍 No ads (frequently mentioned)
- 👍 Calming music

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 False advertising for free dots
- 👎 Gets old/stops challenging after a while
- 👎 Annoying physics of the white ball
- 👎 Colored balls get in the way
- 👎 Glitchy at times

**Reported bugs**

- No videos available for free dots
- App crashes after iOS9 update
- White ball physics feel off/controlled
- Occasional minor glitches
- Addicting but glitchy

**Requested features**

- Option for rows or shapes of dots
- Landscape mode
- Option to go back to a certain level
- Add strategy or time-crucial components for more challenge
- Feature to see all collected colored balls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gem Towers free?

Gem Towers costs $0.49, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ZenDots free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Gem Towers or ZenDots?

ZenDots is rated higher. Gem Towers averages 3.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ZenDots averages 4.7 from 179 ratings.

### Do Gem Towers or ZenDots have ads?

Neither Gem Towers nor ZenDots shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gem Towers or ZenDots?

Gem Towers ships an update every 37 months, and ZenDots fortnightly. Most recently, Gem Towers was updated on October 23, 2026 and ZenDots 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.*