# First Pitch Strike vs Optimal 9

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Optimal 9 at none against First Pitch Strike's 2. First Pitch Strike's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 10 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. First Pitch Strike sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Optimal 9 asks for nothing beyond the download.

First Pitch Strike ships an update every 6 weeks, Optimal 9 every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Pitch Strike | Optimal 9 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal-9/id6477047705/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 32 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Henne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1224263866) | [Stuart Zussman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718584392) |

## What reviewers say

### First Pitch Strike

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-pitch-strike/id6448896406)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pitcher Follow Limit | $1.99 | per month |
| Pitcher Data Tracking | $1.99 | per month |


### Optimal 9

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal-9/id6477047705)

This app simulates baseball batting orders using real player statistics from recent seasons. It allows users to test different lineup configurations to maximize run scoring potential over a series of games. Analyze performance based on actual data and roster information.

**Highlights:** Batting order optimization, Real statistical performance analysis, 2022-2023 season data, Roster integration, Multi-game simulation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Pitch Strike free?

First Pitch Strike is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Optimal 9 free?

Optimal 9 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do First Pitch Strike or Optimal 9 have ads?

Neither First Pitch Strike nor Optimal 9 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Pitch Strike or Optimal 9?

First Pitch Strike ships an update every 6 weeks, and Optimal 9 every 10 months. Most recently, First Pitch Strike was updated on October 19, 2026 and Optimal 9 on September 28, 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.*