# 4 In A Row vs Dots and Boxes

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | 4 In A Row | Dots and Boxes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (531 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/4-in-a-row-board-game/id619808471/reviews)** | [3.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-and-boxes-multiplayer/id1366169655/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **531** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | **71.3% of reviews** | 46.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 53 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Richard Buckingham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1418469127) | [CodeHound](https://appshunter.io/developer/1173184098) |

## What reviewers say

### 4 In A Row

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/4-in-a-row-board-game/id619808471)

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.

**Highlights:** Online multiplayer, Single player tournament, Pass & Play mode, Quick Play mode, Unlockable items, 5 difficulty settings

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good game
- 🎮 Fun and entertaining
- 🧠 Challenges the mind
- 🤩 Addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙄 Boring after a while
- 🚫 Inability to play with friends
- 📺 Too many ads
- 🤖 Easy AI opponents

**Reported bugs**

- Online matchmaking issues
- Game progress not saved properly

**Requested features**

- Option to purchase and remove ads
- More visual customization options
- Multiplayer mode
- Difficulty settings for AI opponents


### Dots and Boxes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dots-and-boxes-multiplayer/id1366169655)

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.

**Highlights:** Live online multiplayer, Private matches with friends, Offline AI opponent, Betting and rewards, Live chat with opponents, Global leaderboard, Facebook login

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 25000 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 50000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 100K Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| 250K Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 95000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 750K Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 4 In A Row free?

4 In A Row is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dots and Boxes free?

Dots and Boxes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, 4 In A Row or Dots and Boxes?

4 In A Row is rated higher. 4 In A Row averages 4.5 out of 5 from 531 ratings, while Dots and Boxes averages 3.7 from 23 ratings.

### Do 4 In A Row or Dots and Boxes have ads?

Both 4 In A Row and Dots and Boxes show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 4 In A Row or Dots and Boxes?

4 In A Row ships an update every 7 months, and Dots and Boxes every 2 months. Most recently, 4 In A Row was updated on November 1, 2026 and Dots and Boxes 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.*