# Holy Mackerel vs Blockist

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Blockist at none against Holy Mackerel's 10. Blockist also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). Holy Mackerel's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Holy Mackerel sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Blockist asks for nothing beyond the download.

Blockist holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Holy Mackerel has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Holy Mackerel ships an update fortnightly, Blockist weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Holy Mackerel | Blockist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/holy-mackerel/id6572291924/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockist/id6739781493/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 174 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kate Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759110751) | [Workfones Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787012130) |

## What reviewers say

### Holy Mackerel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/holy-mackerel/id6572291924)

Embark on a pixel art fishing adventure across diverse biomes. Master timing-based mechanics, upgrade gear, and discover unique fish, including the legendary Holy Mackerel. Engage with charming NPCs and enjoy a stylized, cartoonish world.

**Highlights:** Retro pixel art graphics, Explore diverse biomes, Unique fish in each biome, Timing-based fishing mechanics, Gear upgrades, Unlock new biomes, Interact with NPCs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporters pt1 | $0.49 | one-time |
| Supporters pt2 | $0.49 | one-time |
| Supporters pt3 | $0.49 | one-time |
| Supporters pt4 | $0.49 | one-time |
| Its Alive | $2.99 | one-time |
| Sun, Surf & Style Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Speed Tackle Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| Xmas 2024 Hat + Boat Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Plunders Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Bucket Full Of Clams | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very fun and entertaining
- 🎨 Great art style and visuals
- 💡 Unique features, stands out
- 💸 Not a cash grab, fair monetization
- 😌 Relaxing and time-killing gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 A bit grindy
- 🧊 Pop the ice blocks suck

**Reported bugs**

- Couple of glitches

**Requested features**

- Add an aquarium for passive income (like fish ponds)
- Add an inventory space to keep fish
- Allow players to choose which fish to sell
- A little fish zoo to keep fish in
- Fish hat cosmetic item


### Blockist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blockist/id6739781493)

A casual game where you match blocks by color to achieve high scores. Offers both a relaxed Zen Mode and challenging levels with unique objectives. Perfect for unwinding and passing the time.

**Highlights:** Match blocks by color, Beat your own high score, Zen Mode for relaxation, Challenging levels with unique twists, Casual gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Holy Mackerel free?

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

### Is Blockist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Holy Mackerel or Blockist?

Blockist is rated higher. Holy Mackerel averages 4.5 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Blockist averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Holy Mackerel or Blockist have ads?

Both Holy Mackerel and Blockist show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Holy Mackerel or Blockist?

Holy Mackerel ships an update fortnightly, and Blockist weekly. Most recently, Holy Mackerel was updated on October 30, 2026 and Blockist 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.*