# Simple Match 3 vs Mates

The clearest difference is price: Mates at Free against Simple Match 3's $1.99. Mates also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Simple Match 3's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (257 vs 16). On update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Mates is free to download; Simple Match 3 costs $1.99 up front. Simple Match 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mates asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mates holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Match 3 has 257 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Simple Match 3's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mates's.

Simple Match 3 ships an update weekly, Mates every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Match 3 | Mates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (257 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-match-3/id6482984389/reviews) | **[5.0 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mates-drawn-together/id6760635540/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **257** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 89.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#58** | — |
| Size | 463 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mulberry Tree Games, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1714124470) | [Jordan Naftolin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1009155128) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Match 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-match-3/id6482984389)

**Currently charting:** #58 Top Paid · Casual, #79 Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store)

This is a relaxing puzzle game where you swap tiles to make matches of three. Unlock hundreds of unique tiles, customize your game's appearance, and enjoy satisfying effects. It offers a peaceful experience without ads or excessive story elements.

**Highlights:** No ads or subscriptions, Hundreds of unique tiles, Customizable appearance, Daily levels with leaderboards, Zen Mode for relaxation, Satisfying visual effects, Achievements and boosters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Simple Match 3 Gold | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best Match 3 Game
- 👍 Calming and Engaging
- 🔒 No Ads or IAPs
- 👍 Customizable Tiles
- 👍 Relaxing Music and Sound Effects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs in Higher Levels
- 🐛 Impossible Levels Due to Missing Obstacles
- 🐛 Soft Locks with Rainbow Tiles
- 🐛 Reward Box Tapping Issue
- 🐛 Inconsistent Star Rating System

**Reported bugs**

- Levels with Missing Obstacles
- Reward Box Tapping Issue
- Inconsistent Star Rating System
- Soft Locks with Rainbow Tiles
- Crashes on Opening

**Requested features**

- Level Editor
- Endless/Survival Mode
- Improved Power-Up Interactions
- Hints or Shuffle Option
- Landscape Support for iPad


### Mates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mates-drawn-together/id6760635540)

Draw paths to connect matching creatures and score points. Avoid collisions between different colors to keep the game going. This vibrant puzzle game offers simple controls and challenging gameplay for quick sessions or extended play.

**Highlights:** Draw paths to connect matching creatures, Avoid collisions between different colors, Simple, intuitive drag-and-draw controls, Challenging time and space management, Vibrant, minimalist visuals, Suitable for all ages

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Match 3 free?

Simple Match 3 costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Mates free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simple Match 3 or Mates?

Mates is rated higher. Simple Match 3 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 257 ratings, while Mates averages 5.0 from 16 ratings.

### Do Simple Match 3 or Mates have ads?

Mates shows ads; Simple Match 3 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Match 3 or Mates?

Simple Match 3 ships an update weekly, and Mates every 9 days. Most recently, Simple Match 3 was updated on November 8, 2026 and Mates on October 31, 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.*