# Phantolex vs PatternMate

The clearest difference is price: Phantolex at Free against PatternMate's $3.99. Phantolex also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). PatternMate's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Phantolex is free to download; PatternMate costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Phantolex ships an update every 2 days, PatternMate weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phantolex | PatternMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phantolex/id6479205518/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **97** | — |
| Positive reviews | 84.0% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Paid |
| Size | 85 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tyler Green](https://appshunter.io/developer/1412425855) | [Max Schneider](https://appshunter.io/developer/1216198710) |

## What reviewers say

### Phantolex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phantolex/id6479205518)

A unique word game where the objective is to avoid spelling a complete word. Players take turns adding letters, strategically using powers to outmaneuver opponents and progress through challenging, endless levels. Lose, and it's game over.

**Highlights:** Avoid spelling words, Turn-based letter adding, Strategic power-ups, Endless challenging levels, Unlock rewards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative word game concept
- 👍 Engaging and fun gameplay
- 🧠 Challenging and makes you think
- ✨ Unique twist on word games
- 🎨 Cool sound and kid-friendly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Seriously heats up phone
- 🔋 Big battery drain
- ❓ Inconsistent dictionary
- ❌ Words not accepted
- ❌ Words accepted that shouldn't be

**Reported bugs**

- Invalid word flagged as completed
- False positive for invalid words
- Win/Defeat bug on run completion
- Ad not working to continue game

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer option (1v1)
- Definitions for words
- Portuguese version
- Overrule game's word errors
- More facial expressions for Casp


### PatternMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patternmate-chess/id6795521475)

Sharpen your chess vision with over 51,000 offline tactics puzzles. Choose from three training modes to improve your rating, test your limits, or focus on specific weaknesses. Enjoy an ad-free, subscription-free experience with all puzzles included.

**Highlights:** 51,200 chess puzzles, Three game modes: Tactics, Survival, Practice, Adaptive puzzle difficulty, Over 40 tactic themes, Customizable practice rating range, Offline functionality, No ads or subscriptions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phantolex free?

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

### Is PatternMate free?

PatternMate costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Phantolex or PatternMate have ads?

Phantolex shows ads; PatternMate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Phantolex or PatternMate?

Phantolex ships an update every 2 days, and PatternMate weekly. Most recently, Phantolex was updated on October 5, 2026 and PatternMate on October 15, 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.*