# Close Cities vs Puzzle Parlor

The clearest difference is ads: Puzzle Parlor at none against Close Cities's shown. Puzzle Parlor also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Close Cities's advantage is ratings volume (362 vs 4). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Close Cities sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Puzzle Parlor sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Puzzle Parlor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Close Cities has 362 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Close Cities's written reviews are positive against 100% of Puzzle Parlor's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Close Cities | Puzzle Parlor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (362 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzle-parlor/id6765998068/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **362** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 158 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Juan Manuel Altamirano Argudo](https://appshunter.io/developer/391953849) | [DAVID ISAAC SCHUSTER](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894563220) |

## What reviewers say

### Close Cities

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084)

Build beautiful cities on diverse worlds by solving unique puzzles. This relaxing game guides you through 160 levels with a simple tap or drag interface, requiring no architectural knowledge. Conquer each world's challenges and travel through time with its calming soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Build cities on empty maps, Solve 160 unique puzzle levels, Intuitive tap and drag controls, No architectural knowledge needed, Travel through different worlds, Relaxing music and pace

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hints - Small Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Medium Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads + Hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Big Pack | $5.99 | one-time |


### Puzzle Parlor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzle-parlor/id6765998068)

Enjoy a curated collection of daily and classic puzzle games without ads or in-app purchases. Track your progress with streaks and sync across devices. A simple, family-made experience for puzzle enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Daily new puzzles, Classic puzzle games, No ads or dark patterns, Streak tracking, Optional cloud sync, Dark mode

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzle Parlor Supporter | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Close Cities free?

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

### Is Puzzle Parlor free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Close Cities or Puzzle Parlor?

Puzzle Parlor is rated higher. Close Cities averages 4.8 out of 5 from 362 ratings, while Puzzle Parlor averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Close Cities or Puzzle Parlor have ads?

Close Cities shows ads; Puzzle Parlor does not.

### Which is updated more often, Close Cities or Puzzle Parlor?

Close Cities ships an update every 3 weeks, and Puzzle Parlor every 3 weeks. Most recently, Close Cities was updated on October 24, 2026 and Puzzle Parlor on October 24, 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.*