# Ice Core vs Merge Magic Academy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ice Core at none against Merge Magic Academy's 15. Ice Core also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). Merge Magic Academy's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merge Magic Academy sells 15 one-off in-app purchases. Ice Core asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ice Core ships an update every 3 days, Merge Magic Academy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ice Core | Merge Magic Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (347 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-magic-academy/id6746467003/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **347** |
| Positive reviews | — | 37.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 98 MB | 397 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Grafitoid](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490910210) | [ZYMobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/945646206) |

## What reviewers say

### Ice Core

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ice-core/id6451223374)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Merge Magic Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-magic-academy/id6746467003)

Embark on a magical adventure to restore order to a chaotic academy by using merging spells. Combine items to create astonishing new ones, solve mysteries, and deliver enchanted goods. Enjoy addictive gameplay with a soothing art style.

**Highlights:** Merge items to create new ones, Solve magical mysteries, Deliver enchanted goods, Unlock secrets of the magic city, Addictive merging mechanics, Soothing art style

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 80_Diamond | $1.99 | one-time |
| Endless_Reward_Level_1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Energy_gift | $1.99 | one-time |
| Endless_Reward_Level_2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Endless_Reward_Level_3 | $3.99 | one-time |
| battlepass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily_Bundle_4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 240_Diamond | $4.99 | one-time |
| piggy0 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starter_gift | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily_Bundle_5 | $7.99 | one-time |
| SuperBattlePass | $7.99 | one-time |
| 580_Diamond | $9.99 | one-time |
| Daily_Bundle_6 | $9.99 | one-time |
| piggy2 | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ice Core free?

Ice Core is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Merge Magic Academy free?

Merge Magic Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Ice Core or Merge Magic Academy have ads?

Ice Core shows ads; Merge Magic Academy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ice Core or Merge Magic Academy?

Ice Core ships an update every 3 days, and Merge Magic Academy every 2 months. Most recently, Ice Core was updated on October 27, 2026 and Merge Magic Academy on October 30, 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.*