# Sudoku Cafe vs Sudoku

The clearest difference is update cadence: Sudoku Cafe at every 3 weeks against Sudoku's every 13 months. Sudoku Cafe also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (191 vs 53). Sudoku's advantage is review sentiment (97% 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 Cafe holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 191 and 53 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Sudoku Cafe's written reviews are positive against 97% of Sudoku's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sudoku Cafe ships an update every 3 weeks, Sudoku every 13 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sudoku Cafe | Sudoku |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (191 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-cafe/id540946844/reviews)** | [4.4 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku/id564722864/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **191** | 53 |
| Positive reviews | 89.2% of reviews | **97.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 160 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BitMango, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/465882936) | [Horizon Business, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/431586531) |

## 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/sudoku/id564722864)

Challenge your mind with a classic number puzzle game. Enjoy customizable difficulty levels and backgrounds to enhance your gameplay experience. Perfect for honing your logic and number-solving abilities.

**Highlights:** Number skill testing, Adjustable difficulty levels, Customizable backgrounds, Master the game, Logic puzzles

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | 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 Cafe is rated higher. Sudoku Cafe averages 4.7 out of 5 from 191 ratings, while Sudoku averages 4.4 from 53 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 13 months. Most recently, Sudoku Cafe was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sudoku on November 1, 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.*