# Golly vs Use the Dot

The clearest difference is ads: Golly at none against Use the Dot's shown. Golly also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Use the Dot's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 32 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Golly ships an update every 32 months, Use the Dot every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Golly | Use the Dot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golly/id553184760/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **47** | — |
| Positive reviews | 96.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 15 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Trevorrow](https://appshunter.io/developer/553184763) | [CHIA CHEN CHANG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519782347) |

## What reviewers say

### Golly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golly/id553184760)

Explore Conway's Game of Life and various cellular automata with this open-source application. It supports diverse universe types, multiple algorithms, and a wide array of cellular automata rules. Users can import patterns, download from online archives, and utilize unlimited undo/redo functionality.

**Highlights:** Supports bounded and unbounded universes, Multiple algorithms including hashlife, Variety of cellular automata types included, Reads multiple file formats (RLE, macrocell, etc.), Extracts patterns and rules from zip files, Downloads patterns and rules from online archives, Unlimited undo/redo

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Use the Dot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/use-the-dot/id1606623455)

Experience Conway's Game of Life with AI-driven gameplay and a leisure mode for contemplation. Fulfill achievements and discover hidden Easter eggs within this unique simulation.

**Highlights:** Play with AI, AI vs AI mode, Leisure mode for thinking, Fulfill achievements, Discover Easter eggs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Golly free?

Golly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Use the Dot free?

Use the Dot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Golly or Use the Dot have ads?

Use the Dot shows ads; Golly does not.

### Which is updated more often, Golly or Use the Dot?

Golly ships an update every 32 months, and Use the Dot every 6 months. Most recently, Golly was updated on October 23, 2026 and Use the Dot on October 19, 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.*