# Hearthstone vs Yu

The clearest difference is rating: Yu at 4.9 against Hearthstone's 4.2. Yu also leads on review sentiment (47% vs 36%). Hearthstone's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, 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 Yu sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Yu holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 123K and 88K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Hearthstone's written reviews are positive against 47% of Yu's.

Hearthstone ships an update every 2 weeks, Yu every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hearthstone | Yu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (123K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hearthstone/id625257520/reviews) | **[4.9 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yu-gi-oh-master-duel/id1554247785/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **123K** | 88K |
| Positive reviews | 36.0% of reviews | **46.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#50** | #59 |
| Size | 890 MB | 336 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/306862900) | [KONAMI](https://appshunter.io/developer/299580230) |

## What reviewers say

### Hearthstone

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

**Currently charting:** #50 Top Grossing · Card, #63 Top Grossing · Strategy, #133 Top Free · Strategy, #141 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


### Yu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yu-gi-oh-master-duel/id1554247785)

**Currently charting:** #59 Top Grossing · Card, #83 Top Grossing · Strategy, #139 Top Free · Strategy, #146 Top Free · Card (US App Store)

Engage in fast-paced digital card duels with stunning graphics and a dynamic soundtrack. Learn to play with tutorials, collect cards, and compete in tournaments worldwide. Explore lore through solo mode and refine your strategies with deck-building tools.

**Highlights:** Fast-paced duels with HD graphics, In-game tutorials for new players, Collect over 10,000 unique cards, Rotating tournament formats, Story-driven solo mode, Link with Yu-Gi-Oh! Neuron app, Sample draw feature

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gem Pack 60 + 1 UR 30% Card | $1.19 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 67 | $1.19 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 140 | $2.29 | one-time |
| Limited-Time Gem Pack 333 | $3.39 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 285 + 1 UR Card | $4.49 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 360 | $5.69 | one-time |
| Welcome Gem Pack 1000 | $8.49 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 700 | $10.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Gem Pack 1500 | $10.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Gem Pack 1500 | $11.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Gem Pack 2000 | $16.99 | one-time |
| Limited-Time Gem Pack 2000 | $21.49 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 1420 | $21.49 | one-time |
| Limited-Time Gem Pack 2000 | $22.49 | one-time |
| Limited-Time Gem Pack 3000 | $23.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 1400 | $24.99 | one-time |
| Limited-Time Gem Pack 2500 | $25.49 | one-time |
| Limited-Time Gem Pack 2500 | $26.99 | one-time |
| Limited-Time Gem Pack 3000 | $27.49 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 2350 | $34.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 4950 | $70.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Closest to real TCG experience
- 🤩 Nostalgic for old-school players
- 💎 Generous with in-game currency
- 🎨 Great graphics and animations

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Excessively long turns
- 🤖 Rampant use of bots
- 🤯 Overwhelming for new players
- 🤑 Feels pay-to-win at higher ranks

**Reported bugs**

- Account data randomly deleted
- Connectivity issues and disconnects

**Requested features**

- Add more solo/offline content
- Implement a casual game mode
- Improve deck-building interface
- Add controller support
- Introduce different gameplay formats


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hearthstone free?

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

### Is Yu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hearthstone or Yu?

Yu is rated higher. Hearthstone averages 4.2 out of 5 from 123K ratings, while Yu averages 4.9 from 88K ratings.

### Do Hearthstone or Yu have ads?

Yu shows ads; Hearthstone does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hearthstone or Yu?

Hearthstone ships an update every 2 weeks, and Yu every 3 months. Most recently, Hearthstone was updated on October 29, 2026 and Yu on October 29, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Hearthstone or Yu?

Hearthstone currently peaks at #50 in the App Store charts, and Yu at #59. 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.*