# Pearl Gem! vs Bubble Pop Star

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pearl Gem! at fortnightly against Bubble Pop Star's every 6 weeks. Pearl Gem! also leads on ratings volume (65K vs 16K). Bubble Pop Star's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pearl Gem! sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Bubble Pop Star sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bubble Pop Star holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65K and 16K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 67% and 67% positive.

Pearl Gem! ships an update fortnightly, Bubble Pop Star every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pearl Gem! | Bubble Pop Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (65K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearl-gem/id6477785346/reviews) | **[4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-pop-star-shoot-bubbles/id6479279339/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **65K** | 16K |
| Positive reviews | 66.6% of reviews | **66.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 315 MB | 415 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [A Small Game AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1073064064) | [FLYYES TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1564616638) |

## What reviewers say

### Pearl Gem!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pearl-gem/id6477785346)

Engage in a unique bubble-shooter adventure, breaking obstacles and combining shots to conquer levels. Collect pearls to craft beautiful gems and discover hidden treasures with a helpful companion guiding your way.

**Highlights:** Unique bubble-shooter gameplay, Break through obstacles, Collect pearls, Create beautiful gems, Unlock powerful boosters, Clear layers of the Pearl Sphere

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ad Breaks for 1 day! | $0.99 | one-time |
| No Ad Breaks for 7 days! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Shiny Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| Star Bundle | $6.99 | one-time |
| No Ad Breaks forever! | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Excellent graphics
- 🎮 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🎯 Challenging levels
- 👍 Relaxing and soothing experience
- 💎 Satisfying to watch the pearls drop

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of clarity on game mechanics and progression
- 🔊 Annoying voice/sound effects
- 💰 Too many ads, especially after rating the app
- 🐛 Bugs causing progress resets and issues with water level

**Reported bugs**

- Pearl counter resets to zero
- Water level not progressing as expected
- Sound issues after ad breaks
- Excessively high pearl requirements on certain levels

**Requested features**

- Add more level variety and difficulty
- Introduce new game modes or challenges
- Provide an option to disable sound/music
- Improve the water level progression system
- Add a shop or customization options


### Bubble Pop Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-pop-star-shoot-bubbles/id6479279339)

Engage in a relaxing yet challenging bubble shooter puzzle game. Aim, shoot, and match colorful bubbles to clear levels, earn rewards, and train your brain. Enjoy thousands of unique levels with delightful visuals and soothing sounds, enhanced by powerful boosters.

**Highlights:** Aim and shoot to pop 3+ same-colored bubbles, Clear the board strategically, Thousands of unique levels, Delightful visuals and soothing sounds, Powerful power-ups and creative elements, Brain-training puzzle gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Endless Offer1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1000coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Endless Offer2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Event Sale1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove ADS | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2500coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Endless Offer3 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Event Sale2 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 5000coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Endless Offer4 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Endless Offer5 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 12000coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Endless Offer6 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 25000coins | $39.99 | one-time |
| Endless Offer7 | $49.99 | one-time |
| 55000coins | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Fun and engaging gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and stress-relieving
- 🧠 Mentally stimulating
- 🕹️ Enjoyable for all ages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Too many ads interrupting gameplay
- 🤔 Lack of challenging features or progression
- 🔍 Misleading advertising compared to actual game

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent bubble popping mechanics
- Rewards and progress not properly tracked

**Requested features**

- More challenging levels and game modes
- Ability to earn rewards and progress faster
- Customization options for the gameplay experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pearl Gem! free?

Pearl Gem! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bubble Pop Star free?

Bubble Pop Star is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pearl Gem! or Bubble Pop Star?

Bubble Pop Star is rated higher. Pearl Gem! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 65K ratings, while Bubble Pop Star averages 4.8 from 16K ratings.

### Do Pearl Gem! or Bubble Pop Star have ads?

Both Pearl Gem! and Bubble Pop Star show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pearl Gem! or Bubble Pop Star?

Pearl Gem! ships an update fortnightly, and Bubble Pop Star every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pearl Gem! was updated on November 1, 2026 and Bubble Pop Star on November 1, 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.*