# Bullpen vs Shells

The clearest difference is ads: Bullpen at none against Shells's shown. Bullpen also leads on ratings volume (1.5K vs 22). Shells's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.2). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bullpen sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Shells sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Bullpen against 5.0 for Shells. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bullpen has 1.5K ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Bullpen's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shells's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bullpen | Shells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bullpen-logic-puzzle-game/id6642673670/reviews) | **[5.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-nested-block-puzzle/id6661020395/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | 94.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 38 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Williames](https://appshunter.io/developer/848810698) | [arlybird games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764665157) |

## What reviewers say

### Bullpen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bullpen-logic-puzzle-game/id6642673670)

This logic puzzle game combines elements of Sudoku and Minesweeper. Place bulls according to specific rules, with increasing difficulty options. Enjoy daily challenges and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Place one bull per pen, row, and column, Bulls cannot touch each other (diagonally included), Hard mode: two bulls per pen, row, and column, Ad-free and privacy-focused gameplay, Daily new puzzles, Pro Mode with 5,000+ levels and Free Play

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Excellent design and visuals
- 🧠 Smart and challenging puzzles
- 🕹️ Intuitive and responsive controls
- 🕰️ Relaxing gameplay with timer off
- 🔍 Helpful hint system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited levels in free version
- 🎢 Leaderboards susceptible to cheating

**Reported bugs**

- Annoying bull sound effect
- Difficulty progression issues (needing to replay lower levels)

**Requested features**

- More levels for free version
- Auto-placement tool for faster solving
- Additional customization options (colors, markings)


### Shells

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-nested-block-puzzle/id6661020395)

A geometry puzzle game where you slide blocks into larger shells to rearrange the board and solve challenges. It offers over 360 levels across 8 worlds with a focus on spatial reasoning and problem-solving. Enjoy a relaxing experience with a soothing soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Nested block sliding mechanics, Over 360 original levels, 8 distinct game worlds, Optional hint system, Soothing piano soundtrack, Compact 4x4 grid gameplay

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Bundle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Bundle | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bullpen free?

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

### Is Shells free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bullpen or Shells?

Shells is rated higher. Bullpen averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Shells averages 5.0 from 22 ratings.

### Do Bullpen or Shells have ads?

Shells shows ads; Bullpen does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bullpen or Shells?

Bullpen ships an update weekly, and Shells weekly. Most recently, Bullpen was updated on October 30, 2026 and Shells on October 30, 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.*