4 In A Row vs Dots and Boxes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
4 In A Row
Engage in a classic connect-four style board game. Challenge friends online, compete in a single-player tournament, or play locally on a single device. Enjoy multiple game modes and difficulty settings.
- Online multiplayer
- Single player tournament
- Pass & Play mode
- Quick Play mode
- Unlockable items
- 5 difficulty settings
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Download 4 In A Row for FREE today. Features: • Play online against friends or join a random match. • Massive single player tournament with 48 different characters to defeat. • Pass & Play mode - play against a friend using one device. • Quick Play mode - jump straight in. • Compete in the tournament to unlock new items. • Play with a plastic or wooden board. • 4 Different modes of play. • 5 Difficulty settings. • Universal app - works on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. • Got more than one device? No problem! Your progress is automatically synced between devices using Game Center.
Dots and Boxes
Engage in a classic pencil-and-paper strategy game with this digital multiplayer version. Connect dots to form squares and outscore your opponents in live online matches, private games with friends, or offline against the computer. Bet on matches and climb the global leaderboard.
- Live online multiplayer
- Private matches with friends
- Offline AI opponent
- Betting and rewards
- Live chat with opponents
- Global leaderboard
- Facebook login
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Dots and Boxes is a LIVE, online Multiplayer version of the popular classic board game- Dots & Boxes. This amazing game is a modern take on the pencil-and-paper game that has been a favourite among players all over the world. Objective of the game is to link any 2 dots and close the squares. The player who closes the most number of boxes wins. You and your opponents take turns to connect dots by adding a single horizontal or vertical line between 2 adjacent dots. Dots and Boxes: Multiplayer offers you a wide range of game modes including MULTIPLAYER mode where you play against players worldwide. PRIVATE mode lets you Create or Join a match with your family and friends. OFFLINE mode for keeping you engaged when you are away from the internet. Features: • Live, Online Multiplayer Dots & Boxes game • Play with gamers all over the world with MULTIPLAYER mode • Play PRIVATE game with your friends and family • Play OFFLINE turn-based game against the computer • Place your desired BET amounts and win Double Rewards • CHAT Live with opponents while playing • Top the Global LEADERBOARD and be the ultimate Champion • Login with FACEBOOK • Designed for both smartphones and tablets • Suitable for all ages If you love playing board games online, you will love Dots and Boxes. A perfect puzzle game for your friends and family. Download and play for Free!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: 4 In A Row at 4.5 against Dots and Boxes's 3.7. 4 In A Row also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and review sentiment (71% vs 47%). Dots and Boxes's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Dots and Boxes sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. 4 In A Row asks for nothing beyond the download.
4 In A Row holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 4 In A Row has 531 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of 4 In A Row's written reviews are positive against 47% of Dots and Boxes's.
4 In A Row ships an update every 7 months, Dots and Boxes every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 4 In A Row | Dots and Boxes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (531 ratings) — better | 3.7 (23 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 71.3% of reviews — better | 46.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 531 — better | 23 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 94 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Richard Buckingham | CodeHound |
Customer experience
4 In A Row
Dots and Boxes
Bugs and requests
4 In A Row
Reported bugs
2 issues- Online matchmaking issues
- Game progress not saved properly
Requested features
4 requests- Option to purchase and remove ads
- More visual customization options
- Multiplayer mode
- Difficulty settings for AI opponents
Dots and Boxes
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
4 In A Row
No in-app purchases
Dots and Boxes
- 10000 Coins$0.99
- 25000 Coins$1.99
- 50000 Coins$2.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- 100K Coins$3.99
- 250K Coins$4.99
- 95000 Coins$4.99
- 750K Coins$5.99
- Remove Ads$9.99
Questions
Is 4 In A Row free?
Is Dots and Boxes free?
Which has better reviews, 4 In A Row or Dots and Boxes?
Do 4 In A Row or Dots and Boxes have ads?
Which is updated more often, 4 In A Row or Dots and Boxes?
Other comparisons
