# PiKuBo vs Tide's End

The clearest difference is price: PiKuBo at Free against Tide's End's $2.99. Tide's End's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

PiKuBo is free to download; Tide's End costs $2.99 up front. PiKuBo sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Tide's End asks for nothing beyond the download.

PiKuBo ships an update every 5 weeks, Tide's End daily. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PiKuBo | Tide's End |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (96 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikubo-3d-nonogram-puzzles/id6467725326/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **96** | — |
| Positive reviews | 86.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 97 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Benito](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566105796) | [Yarncat LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1694170416) |

## What reviewers say

### PiKuBo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikubo-3d-nonogram-puzzles/id6467725326)

Engage in a unique 3D puzzle game where you reveal shapes by strategically removing blocks from a cube. Enjoy hundreds of logic-based puzzles with adaptive controls and soothing music. Unlock more challenges through in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of 3D nonogram puzzles, Logic-based solving, no guesswork, Adaptive one-handed controls, Customizable markers with four colors, Soothing bossa nova background music, Portrait and landscape viewing modes, Family sharing for level packs

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzle Pack 02 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 03 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 11 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 10 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 09 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 08 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 07 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 06 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 05 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 04 | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative 3D nonogram puzzle concept
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed user interface
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visual presentation
- 💰 Affordable pricing for puzzle packs ($0.99 each)

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Timer system feels rushed and stressful
- ❤️ Heart/lives system frustrating for some players
- 🐛 Occasional accidental block touches
- 🔧 Controls reset when rotating puzzle
- 💸 Pricing model requires multiple purchases for full content

**Reported bugs**

- In-app purchase error preventing pack purchases
- Purchase not received after payment
- Support email bouncing back
- Color contrast issue in Pack 12 (blue on blue)
- Inability to expose enough blocks at certain angles for decision-making

**Requested features**

- More puzzle packs released more frequently
- Undo button for accidental moves
- Save progress mid-puzzle
- Ability to move puzzle around (pan feature)
- Full 360-degree rotation capability


### Tide's End

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tides-end/id6471380375)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PiKuBo free?

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

### Is Tide's End free?

Tide's End costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do PiKuBo or Tide's End have ads?

Neither PiKuBo nor Tide's End shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PiKuBo or Tide's End?

PiKuBo ships an update every 5 weeks, and Tide's End daily. Most recently, PiKuBo was updated on November 7, 2026 and Tide's End on November 7, 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.*