# Cupcake Maker vs Shopping Jam

The clearest difference is rating: Cupcake Maker at 4.8 against Shopping Jam's 4.1. Cupcake Maker also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 19 months) and review sentiment (79% vs 52%). Shopping Jam's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cupcake Maker sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Shopping Jam sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Cupcake Maker holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cupcake Maker has 2.3K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Cupcake Maker's written reviews are positive against 52% of Shopping Jam's.

Cupcake Maker ships an update fortnightly, Shopping Jam every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cupcake Maker | Shopping Jam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cupcake-maker-baking-games/id557898813/reviews)** | [4.1 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shopping-jam/id996366555/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.3K** | 41 |
| Positive reviews | **79.4% of reviews** | 52.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 19 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 72 MB | 169 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bluebear Technologies Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/522548950) | [Sunstorm Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/335280912) |

## What reviewers say

### Cupcake Maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cupcake-maker-baking-games/id557898813)

Design and bake your own virtual cupcakes from scratch. Choose from numerous flavors, liners, and a vast array of frosting, sprinkles, and decorative toppings to create unique treats. Save, eat, or share your edible masterpieces.

**Highlights:** Customizable paper liners, Nearly 30 flavor recipes, Step-by-step cooking stages, Variety of frostings and whipped creams, Extensive sprinkle and sweet decorations, Save, eat, or share creations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food Pass | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Bluebear FoodPass Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bluebear Food Pass Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Bluebear FoodPass Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Bluebear FoodPass Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Unlock Everything & Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bluebear FoodPass Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and interactive app
- 🍰 Wide variety of cupcake flavors
- 🎨 Ability to decorate cupcakes
- 💕 Loved by kids and families

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Many features locked behind paywall
- 💸 Expensive to unlock full version
- 📢 Excessive ads interrupting gameplay
- 🐛 Occasional glitches and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing cupcake wrappers
- Inability to access previously made cupcakes
- Locked features not working after purchase

**Requested features**

- Ability to save and revisit decorated cupcakes
- More unlocked flavors and decorations
- Cake or other dessert maker modes
- Smoothie, milkshake, or other drink maker


### Shopping Jam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shopping-jam/id996366555)

Slide, switch, and match fashion items in this trendy Match 3 game. Collect the hottest styles, complete outfits, and expand your wardrobe. Shop through various fashionable locations and use power-ups to find rare items.

**Highlights:** Match fashion items, Collect hottest styles, Complete outfits, Expand wardrobe, Use power-ups, Shop in various locations

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No ads! | $0.99 | one-time |
| Itty Pile | $1.99 | one-time |
| Power up Laundry day | $1.99 | one-time |
| Power up Stain remover | $1.99 | one-time |
| Power up Shopping spree | $1.99 | one-time |
| Golden Boutique | $2.99 | one-time |
| Teeny Pile | $4.99 | one-time |
| Popular Pile | $9.99 | one-time |
| Simple Sack | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cupcake Maker free?

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

### Is Shopping Jam free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cupcake Maker or Shopping Jam?

Cupcake Maker is rated higher. Cupcake Maker averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while Shopping Jam averages 4.1 from 41 ratings.

### Do Cupcake Maker or Shopping Jam have ads?

Cupcake Maker shows ads; Shopping Jam does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cupcake Maker or Shopping Jam?

Cupcake Maker ships an update fortnightly, and Shopping Jam every 19 months. Most recently, Cupcake Maker was updated on October 27, 2026 and Shopping Jam on October 24, 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.*