# Sudoku Cafe vs Sudoku

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Sudoku Cafe at 191 against Sudoku's 1. Sudoku Cafe also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Sudoku's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 89%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sudoku Cafe sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Sudoku sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sudoku holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sudoku Cafe has 191 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Sudoku Cafe's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sudoku's.

Sudoku Cafe ships an update every 3 weeks, Sudoku every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sudoku Cafe | Sudoku |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (191 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-cafe/id540946844/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudokuclassic-math-conundrum/id1439558271/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **191** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 89.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 160 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BitMango, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/465882936) | [湘衡 唐](https://appshunter.io/developer/917162297) |

## What reviewers say

### Sudoku Cafe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-cafe/id540946844)

This logic-based puzzle game challenges you to fill a 9x9 grid with numbers from 1 to 9. Follow the rules of Sudoku to ensure no duplicates in rows, columns, or 3x3 subregions. Progress through multiple difficulty levels and test your skills.

**Highlights:** 9x9 grid puzzles, Multiple difficulty levels, Logic-based gameplay, Number placement, Error tracking

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 Combo Boosters | $0.99 | one-time |
| 5 Hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| 11 Hints | $1.99 | one-time |
| AdFree | $1.99 | one-time |
| 23 Hints | $3.99 | one-time |
| 50 Hints | $7.99 | one-time |
| 50 Combo Boosters | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to learn and play for beginners
- 🎨 Clean, attractive graphics and visual design
- 🧠 Great mental exercise and brain stimulation
- ⚡ Smooth, flawless gameplay mechanics
- ✏️ Excellent pencil mark system with number highlighting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Game mechanics differ from standard Sudoku (select number first, then square)
- 📺 Excessive advertisements, especially in free version
- ⏱️ Mandatory timer creates pressure and competition
- ❌ Harsh penalty system for mistakes (fail after 3 errors)
- 🎨 Monotone grid design makes sectors hard to distinguish

**Reported bugs**

- Results screen buttons (home/replay) non-functional after completing puzzle
- Timer starts automatically when ads play, adding unwanted seconds to score
- Theme/tile appearance changes when resuming saved games
- Pencil marks disappear from certain board themes after updates
- Incorrect number validation preventing correct entries

**Requested features**

- Ultra-hard difficulty level beyond expert
- Option to disable timer and mistake notifications
- Ability to turn off penalty system for casual play
- Save game feature to resume later
- Landscape orientation support


### Sudoku

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudokuclassic-math-conundrum/id1439558271)

Engage your mind with this classic number puzzle game. Improve concentration and logical thinking by filling grids with numbers 1-9, ensuring no repetition in rows, columns, or 3x3 boxes. It's a great way to exercise your brain daily.

**Highlights:** Number logic reasoning, Daily brain exercise, Improves concentration, Develops brain potential, Easy to learn rules, 9x9 grid puzzles

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sudoku Cafe free?

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

### Is Sudoku free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sudoku Cafe or Sudoku?

Sudoku is rated higher. Sudoku Cafe averages 4.7 out of 5 from 191 ratings, while Sudoku averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Sudoku Cafe or Sudoku have ads?

Both Sudoku Cafe and Sudoku show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sudoku Cafe or Sudoku?

Sudoku Cafe ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sudoku every 2 months. Most recently, Sudoku Cafe was updated on October 26, 2026 and Sudoku on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*