# PopCandy ® vs PopStar!

The clearest difference is rating: PopCandy ® at 4.6 against PopStar!'s 3.8. PopCandy ® also leads on ratings volume (475 vs 31) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). PopStar!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PopCandy ® sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. PopStar! asks for nothing beyond the download.

PopCandy ® holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PopCandy ® has 475 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 90% and 90% positive.

PopCandy ® ships an update every 2 weeks, PopStar! monthly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PopCandy ® | PopStar! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (475 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popcandy/id593323689/reviews)** | [3.8 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popstar-hd/id870110848/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **475** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | 89.6% of reviews | **89.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [耀志 黄](https://appshunter.io/developer/793609884) | [崇林 莫](https://appshunter.io/developer/527637755) |

## What reviewers say

### PopCandy ®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popcandy/id593323689)

Engage in a classic match-2 puzzle adventure with colorful candies. Clear the board by matching two or more of the same color to trigger explosive combos and earn rewards. Enjoy offline play with intuitive controls and cheerful graphics.

**Highlights:** Match 2 or more candies, Explosive combos and rewards, Powerful candy power-ups, Offline play, One-finger controls, Cute cartoon graphics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 Magic Candies | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ad | $0.99 | one-time |
| 18 Magic Candies | $2.99 | one-time |
| 35 Magic Candies | $4.99 | one-time |
| 50 Magic Candies | $5.99 | one-time |
| 100 Magic Candies | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and fun
- 👍 Relaxing and calming
- 💡 Great strategy game
- 🚀 Kills time effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches after updates
- 🔋 Ads can be intrusive
- 🔒 High score issues

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing on loading screen
- High score not updating correctly
- Ads blocking gameplay

**Requested features**

- Save game progress option
- More level variety
- Ability to restart levels


### PopStar!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popstar-hd/id870110848)

Tap adjacent stars of the same color to clear them and achieve target scores. Strategize to clear as many stars as possible for bonuses and coins. Enjoy a visually appealing puzzle experience with no time limits.

**Highlights:** Tap adjacent same-colored stars, No time limit, Stage-based target scores, Bonus points for clearing all stars, Auto-save progress, Beautiful star graphics

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Highly addictive and engaging gameplay
- 🧠 Requires strategy and thinking
- 😌 Relaxing and stress-free experience
- ⏱️ Perfect for passing time
- 🎨 Beautiful colors and visual design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Excessive and intrusive advertisements
- 💾 Game doesn't save progress when stopped
- ⚙️ Settings don't persist between sessions
- 🔗 Ads force redirect to app store
- 👶 Some inappropriate ad content

**Reported bugs**

- Score not saved when game is stopped
- Level progress not saved
- Settings reset on app restart
- Incorrect score calculation
- Game restarts from beginning when interrupted

**Requested features**

- Save game progress option
- Paid ad-free version
- Ability to redo/retry puzzles
- Different scoring system
- Fewer ads between turns


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PopCandy ® free?

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

### Is PopStar! free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PopCandy ® or PopStar!?

PopCandy ® is rated higher. PopCandy ® averages 4.6 out of 5 from 475 ratings, while PopStar! averages 3.8 from 31 ratings.

### Do PopCandy ® or PopStar! have ads?

PopCandy ® shows ads; PopStar! does not.

### Which is updated more often, PopCandy ® or PopStar!?

PopCandy ® ships an update every 2 weeks, and PopStar! monthly. Most recently, PopCandy ® was updated on October 17, 2026 and PopStar! on October 17, 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.*