# Missing Link vs Red Herring

The clearest difference is ads: Missing Link at none against Red Herring's shown. Missing Link also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 76%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.6). Red Herring's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 75 months) and ratings volume (48K vs 344). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Missing Link sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Red Herring sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Red Herring holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Red Herring has 48K ratings behind it against 344, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 92% of Missing Link's written reviews are positive against 76% of Red Herring's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Missing Link ships an update every 75 months, Red Herring every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Missing Link | Red Herring |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (344 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/missing-link/id494193768/reviews) | **[4.7 (48K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/red-herring/id663596265/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 344 | **48K** |
| Positive reviews | **92.3% of reviews** | 75.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 75 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sarah Pierce](https://appshunter.io/developer/406813189) | [Blue Ox Family Games, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/288074001) |

## What reviewers say

### Missing Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/missing-link/id494193768)

Engage in a relaxing word puzzle where you find missing letters to solve three interconnected words. This addictive game sharpens your mind, improves spelling, and expands vocabulary with thousands of challenges.

**Highlights:** Find missing letters, Solve three interconnected words, Thousands of puzzles, Three difficulty levels, Vocabulary and spelling builder, Mental exercise

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Easy Puzzle Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Puzzle Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hard Puzzle Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50 Hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| 150 Hints | $1.99 | one-time |
| 500 Hints | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤓 Challenging and engaging
- 🧠 Keeps the brain active
- 👍 Enjoyable and addictive
- 🕰️ Good for passing time
- 🎨 Unique and different from other word games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs or glitches
- 🔇 Mutes audio/music
- 🕰️ Rounds can be too long
- 🤖 Needs more updates and new levels

**Reported bugs**

- Back and volume buttons not working properly
- Spelling mistakes in some levels
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add a level select screen
- Provide progress tracking
- Implement a timer or scoring system
- Add support for landscape orientation
- Offer an ad-free version


### Red Herring

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/red-herring/id663596265)

This word puzzle game challenges you to group words into categories while identifying misleading "Red Herring" words. Enjoy a fun, challenging, and easy-to-learn experience with no time limits and three difficulty levels suitable for all ages.

**Highlights:** Group words into categories, Identify misleading "Red Herring" words, No time limit, Three difficulty levels, Daily puzzle

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Curiosity - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brilliant! - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Allegro - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Spelunking - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Renaissance - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| IQ - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Serendipity - 50 Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Older Daily Puzzles 2014 Jul - Dec | $3.99 | one-time |
| Quantum Leap - 175 Puzzles | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤔 Challenging and thought-provoking
- 🧠 Exercises the mind
- ⏰ Good time-passer
- 🎮 Fun and addictive game
- 🎓 Educational and expands vocabulary

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🇺🇸 Too American-centric
- 💰 Expensive paid content
- 🚫 Limited free content
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Obscure references and categories

**Reported bugs**

- Formatting issues after updates
- Inability to access previous daily puzzles
- Ads that cannot be dismissed

**Requested features**

- More free daily puzzles
- Less American-focused content
- Dark mode option
- Ability to replay past puzzles
- Hints system improvements


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Missing Link free?

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

### Is Red Herring free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Missing Link or Red Herring?

Red Herring is rated higher. Missing Link averages 4.5 out of 5 from 344 ratings, while Red Herring averages 4.7 from 48K ratings.

### Do Missing Link or Red Herring have ads?

Red Herring shows ads; Missing Link does not.

### Which is updated more often, Missing Link or Red Herring?

Missing Link ships an update every 75 months, and Red Herring every 3 months. Most recently, Missing Link was updated on October 1, 2026 and Red Herring on October 13, 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.*