# Strands vs Stackdown

The clearest difference is rating: Stackdown at 4.8 against Strands's 1.3. Stackdown also leads on ratings volume (33 vs 8). Strands's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Strands sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Stackdown sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Stackdown holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 33 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 0% and 0% positive.

Strands ships an update every 2 weeks, Stackdown every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Strands | Stackdown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strands-uncover-words/id6479949450/reviews) | **[4.8 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stackdown-word-tile-puzzle/id6760536793/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **33** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 73 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Batuhan Tarhanacioglu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678286405) | [Kuantark Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509967573) |

## What reviewers say

### Strands

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strands-uncover-words/id6479949450)

Engage your mind with word puzzles that test your vocabulary and word-finding skills. Discover hidden words in grids across various categories and themes. Enjoy customizable difficulty and competitive multiplayer modes.

**Highlights:** Hidden word discovery, Vocabulary building, Hundreds of levels, Customizable difficulty, Multiplayer competition, Stunning visuals and sound

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 800_coin | $3.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $5.49 | one-time |
| 2000_coin | $7.99 | one-time |
| No Ads + 3000 Coin | $9.99 | one-time |
| 4000_coin | $10.99 | one-time |


### Stackdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stackdown-word-tile-puzzle/id6760536793)

Unstack letters to reveal hidden words in this unique puzzle game. Combine tile-digging mechanics with word-finding challenges. Solve daily puzzles and aim for high scores by using fewer hints.

**Highlights:** Unstack tiles to find words, Solve 5-letter word puzzles, Daily handcrafted puzzles, Hint system for assistance, No time pressure gameplay, Minimalist design

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Strands free?

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

### Is Stackdown free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Strands or Stackdown?

Stackdown is rated higher. Strands averages 1.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Stackdown averages 4.8 from 33 ratings.

### Do Strands or Stackdown have ads?

Both Strands and Stackdown show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Strands or Stackdown?

Strands ships an update every 2 weeks, and Stackdown every 11 days. Most recently, Strands was updated on October 25, 2026 and Stackdown on October 25, 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.*