# Hearthstone vs Mahjong Soul

The clearest difference is rating: Mahjong Soul at 4.9 against Hearthstone's 4.2. Mahjong Soul also leads on review sentiment (65% vs 36%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Hearthstone's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (123K vs 11K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hearthstone sells 21 one-off in-app purchases and Mahjong Soul sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mahjong Soul holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hearthstone has 123K ratings behind it against 11K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Hearthstone's written reviews are positive against 65% of Mahjong Soul's.

Hearthstone ships an update every 2 weeks, Mahjong Soul every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hearthstone | Mahjong Soul |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (123K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearthstone/id625257520/reviews) | **[4.9 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong-soul/id1464872167/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **123K** | 11K |
| Positive reviews | 36.0% of reviews | **64.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#52** | #110 |
| Size | 890 MB | 2.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/306862900) | [YOSTAR LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1411126548) |

## What reviewers say

### Hearthstone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearthstone/id625257520)

**Currently charting:** #52 Top Grossing · Card, #67 Top Grossing · Strategy, #182 Top Free · Strategy, #188 Top Free · Card (US App Store)

Engage in a strategic card battle game where you collect powerful cards, build custom decks, and outwit opponents. Explore various game modes, from competitive PvP to solo adventures, all within the iconic Warcraft universe.

**Highlights:** Collectible battle cards, Deck building and customization, Strategic card battles, Multiple game modes (Standard, Wild, Battlegrounds), PvP and PvE challenges, Warcraft universe integration

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arena Admission | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 2 Classic Packs | $2.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Bundle of 10 Classic Packs + Classic Legendary Card | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500 Runestones | $4.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin | $6.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 Grand Tournament Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 Classic Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 7 "Whispers of the Old Gods" Packs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| BG Season Pass | $14.99 | one-time |
| Tavern Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| BG Season Pass | $19.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 15 Classic Packs | $19.99 | one-time |
| Bundle: All 4 League of Explorers Wings | $19.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $39.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 40 Classic Packs | $49.99 | one-time |
| Packs Bundle | $59.99 | one-time |
| Hero Skin Bundle | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Stunning visuals and animations
- 🕹️ Engaging strategic gameplay
- 🎁 Generous free-to-play model
- 🕰️ Endless replayability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive to stay competitive
- 🔁 Repetitive meta decks
- 🎲 Excessive RNG elements
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Slow progression for free players

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes during gameplay
- Connectivity issues after updates
- Reward system not working as intended
- Unresponsive UI on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Improved matchmaking system
- More cooperative game modes
- Ability to trade or disenchant unwanted cards
- Reduced cost of new expansions
- Faster gold/dust earning for free players


### Mahjong Soul

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong-soul/id1464872167)

**Currently charting:** #110 Top Grossing · Board (US App Store)

Experience thrilling Mahjong with fully voiced ACG characters and deep progression. Customize your experience with cool visual effects and a variety of items. Challenge friends or compete in tournaments with fair gameplay and engaging events.

**Highlights:** Fully voiced ACG characters, Character progression and storytelling, Cool visual effects, Item customization, Character emojis, In-game tutorial, Friends system

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 60 Jade | $0.99 | one-time |
| 300 Jade | $4.99 | one-time |
| Fortune Charm | $4.99 | one-time |
| 480 Jade | $7.99 | one-time |
| 900 Jade | $14.99 | one-time |
| 900 Outfit Voucher | $14.99 | one-time |
| 1200 Jade | $19.99 | one-time |
| 1800 Outfit Voucher | $29.99 | one-time |
| 1800 Jade | $29.99 | one-time |
| 2400 Jade | $39.99 | one-time |
| 4900 Jade | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun mahjong gameplay
- 👍 Beginner-friendly tutorials
- 🎨 Cute anime-style visuals
- 🕹️ Easy to play and learn
- 💻 Cross-platform support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Gacha system is restrictive for F2P players
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connectivity issues
- 🤔 Lack of in-depth explanations for game mechanics
- 🤑 Expensive in-app purchases for characters
- 🤯 Unfair matchmaking and luck-based outcomes

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Crashes during or after matches
- Connectivity issues and network errors
- Purchased items not showing up in-game
- Inconsistent gacha and reward system

**Requested features**

- More free-to-play rewards and currency
- Improved tutorial and gameplay explanations
- Japanese language support
- Practice mode and single-player options
- Better matchmaking and skill-based matchups


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hearthstone free?

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

### Is Mahjong Soul free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hearthstone or Mahjong Soul?

Mahjong Soul is rated higher. Hearthstone averages 4.2 out of 5 from 123K ratings, while Mahjong Soul averages 4.9 from 11K ratings.

### Do Hearthstone or Mahjong Soul have ads?

Neither Hearthstone nor Mahjong Soul shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hearthstone or Mahjong Soul?

Hearthstone ships an update every 2 weeks, and Mahjong Soul every 4 months. Most recently, Hearthstone was updated on November 1, 2026 and Mahjong Soul on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Hearthstone or Mahjong Soul?

Hearthstone currently peaks at #52 in the App Store charts, and Mahjong Soul at #110. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*