# Math Gremlin vs Shadow Pals

The clearest difference is rating: Shadow Pals at 5.0 against Math Gremlin's 3.8. Shadow Pals also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Math Gremlin sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Shadow Pals sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shadow Pals holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Math Gremlin | Shadow Pals |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/math-gremlin-math-video-game/id6445924683/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-pals-shadow-puppets/id6758228623/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 90 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blue Water Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1541160065) | [Awesome People Software, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804437971) |

## What reviewers say

### Math Gremlin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/math-gremlin-math-video-game/id6445924683)

This game makes learning basic math fun by having players guide a character through challenges to find numbers that add up to a target sum before time expires. Levels increase in difficulty, offering replayability with unique problems each time. In-game currency can be earned or purchased to enhance gameplay.

**Highlights:** Number addition puzzles, Time-based challenges, Progressive difficulty levels, Replayable unique problems, In-game currency for boosts, Character customization

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 25,000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 500,000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |


### Shadow Pals

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-pals-shadow-puppets/id6758228623)

Learn the art of shadow puppetry with guided, step-by-step instructions. Create animals, characters, and imaginative stories using just your hands and a light source. This app encourages creativity and storytelling for families.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step shadow puppet tutorials, Create animals and characters, Build shadow stories and shows, Encourages imagination and creativity, Family-friendly and privacy-focused, No special equipment required

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shadow Pals Pro | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Math Gremlin free?

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

### Is Shadow Pals free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Math Gremlin or Shadow Pals?

Shadow Pals is rated higher. Math Gremlin averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Shadow Pals averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Math Gremlin or Shadow Pals have ads?

Math Gremlin shows ads; Shadow Pals does not.

### Which is updated more often, Math Gremlin or Shadow Pals?

Math Gremlin ships an update every 2 months, and Shadow Pals every 2 months. Most recently, Math Gremlin was updated on November 3, 2026 and Shadow Pals on October 31, 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.*