# Slitherlink vs Number Chain

The clearest difference is ads: Slitherlink at none against Number Chain's shown. Slitherlink also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 80%). Number Chain's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Slitherlink sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Number Chain sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Slitherlink against 4.7 for Number Chain. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 461 and 624 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Slitherlink's written reviews are positive against 80% of Number Chain's.

Slitherlink ships an update every 4 months, Number Chain every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Slitherlink | Number Chain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (461 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slitherlink-loop-the-snake/id605918324/reviews)** | [4.7 (624 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/number-chain-logic-puzzle/id1348153114/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 461 | **624** |
| Positive reviews | **89.5% of reviews** | 80.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Conceptis Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/479420055) | [Ecapyc Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/459418445) |

## What reviewers say

### Slitherlink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slitherlink-loop-the-snake/id605918324)

Solve logic puzzles by drawing a single loop around clues on a grid. Connect dots to form a continuous line, with no crossings or branches. Offers endless fun and intellectual challenge for puzzle enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Draw a single continuous loop, Surround numbered clues, Pure logic, no math required, Weekly bonus puzzles, Multiple difficulty levels, Auto complete clues, Highlight link segment

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Easy Variety 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Easy Variety - Large 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Variety 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Variety - Large 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hard Variety 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Easy Variety 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Variety 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hard Variety 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Big & Easy 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Big & Medium 1 | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Challenging and fun puzzles
- 👍 Well-designed and intuitive interface
- 🔍 Helpful check and undo features
- 💡 Variety of puzzle sizes and difficulty levels
- 🧠 Requires logical thinking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of coloring/marking tools to differentiate loop segments
- 💰 Expensive puzzle pack prices
- 🌙 No dark mode option
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Limited free puzzle content

**Reported bugs**

- App not loading properly for some users
- Freezing issues on login screen
- Incompatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add a dark mode option
- Implement coloring/marking tools for loop segments
- Provide more free puzzle content
- Reduce pricing for puzzle packs
- Add a rewind/undo feature to go back to previous puzzle states


### Number Chain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/number-chain-logic-puzzle/id1348153114)

This brain training game challenges you to connect numbers in sequential order, combining elements of Sudoku and Hidato. Enjoy endless free puzzles with varying difficulties, playable offline and featuring customizable themes. Improve your memory and concentration with this engaging logic puzzle.

**Highlights:** Connect numbers 1 to max, Horizontal, vertical, diagonal connections, Endless free puzzles, Multiple difficulty levels, Night mode, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 Hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| 5 Keys | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| 30 Hints | $4.99 | one-time |
| 30 Keys | $4.99 | one-time |
| 70 Hints | $9.99 | one-time |
| 70 Keys | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Excellent brain training and mental exercise
- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-learn gameplay
- 🎮 Highly addictive and engaging puzzle mechanics
- ⏱️ Perfect for quick time-filling sessions
- 🆓 Works offline without data requirements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔥 Excessive heat generation on devices
- 📢 Too many advertisements throughout gameplay
- ⏰ Time limit pressure reduces enjoyment
- 🎵 Interferes with background music playback
- 👁️ Small text causes eye strain

**Reported bugs**

- Tutorial level 15 doesn't progress
- Ad-removal purchase not working or expiring unexpectedly
- Ad close button unresponsive
- App crashes when sharing completion screenshots
- Hint counter displays 0 despite watching ads

**Requested features**

- Higher difficulty levels beyond Hardcore mode
- Undo/rewind button for mistakes
- Save game functionality
- Skip tutorial option
- Text size adjustment/zoom feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Slitherlink free?

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

### Is Number Chain free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Slitherlink or Number Chain?

Slitherlink is rated higher. Slitherlink averages 4.8 out of 5 from 461 ratings, while Number Chain averages 4.7 from 624 ratings.

### Do Slitherlink or Number Chain have ads?

Number Chain shows ads; Slitherlink does not.

### Which is updated more often, Slitherlink or Number Chain?

Slitherlink ships an update every 4 months, and Number Chain every 4 days. Most recently, Slitherlink was updated on November 1, 2026 and Number Chain on November 2, 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.*