# Ruzzle vs Dots & Boxes

The clearest difference is rating: Dots & Boxes at 5.0 against Ruzzle's 4.2. Dots & Boxes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). Ruzzle's advantage is ratings volume (7.9K vs 1) and chart position (#59 vs unranked). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ruzzle sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Dots & Boxes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dots & Boxes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ruzzle has 7.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Ruzzle ships an update every 6 weeks, Dots & Boxes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ruzzle | Dots & Boxes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (7.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruzzle/id504265646/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-and-boxes-master/id6804808234/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.9K** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#59** | — |
| Size | 471 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MAG Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/307343213) | [Aspire Globus](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855903113) |

## What reviewers say

### Ruzzle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruzzle/id504265646)

**Currently charting:** #59 Top Grossing · Word, #120 Top Grossing · Board, #195 Top Free · Word (US App Store)

Engage in a fast-paced word search game where you race against the clock to find as many words as possible. Challenge friends or random players in timed rounds, utilizing bonus tiles to boost your score. New team play modes allow for cooperative competition against other teams.

**Highlights:** Fast-paced word search, Challenge friends or random players, Timed rounds, Bonus tiles, Team Play mode, Co-op game mode, Team Play leagues

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A few coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ruzzle Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| A few coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| VIP Pass | $2.99 | one-time |
| A lot of coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |
| A lot of coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| A heap of coins | $10.99 | one-time |
| A heap of coins | $14.99 | one-time |
| A large pile of coins | $39.99 | one-time |
| A large pile of coins | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast-paced gameplay
- 👍 Challenging and engaging
- 💡 Tournaments and team play features
- 🧠 Helps exercise the brain

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔇 Sound issues and audio cutting out
- 📢 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 💰 Overly monetized with in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Scores not registering properly
- Repeated rounds and lost progress
- Freezing and crashing on newer devices
- Inconsistent team play mechanics

**Requested features**

- Pause button during gameplay
- Dictionary lookup for unknown words
- Skill-based matchmaking for tournaments
- Ability to rotate board on tablets


### Dots & Boxes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-and-boxes-master/id6804808234)

Relive the classic pen-and-paper grid game with a modern twist. Challenge friends locally, customize boards and players, and track your victories with detailed statistics. Enjoy immersive gameplay with haptic feedback and beautiful animations, all playable offline.

**Highlights:** Local multiplayer (PvP), Customizable board sizes, Player name and color customization, Match history and statistics, Haptic feedback and sound effects, Light and dark modes, 100% offline play

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ruzzle free?

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

### Is Dots & Boxes free?

Dots & Boxes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Ruzzle or Dots & Boxes?

Dots & Boxes is rated higher. Ruzzle averages 4.2 out of 5 from 7.9K ratings, while Dots & Boxes averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Ruzzle or Dots & Boxes have ads?

Ruzzle shows ads; Dots & Boxes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ruzzle or Dots & Boxes?

Ruzzle ships an update every 6 weeks, and Dots & Boxes every 3 days. Most recently, Ruzzle was updated on October 19, 2026 and Dots & Boxes on October 6, 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.*