# Shells vs Pattern Pop

The clearest difference is price: Shells at Free against Pattern Pop's $1.99. Shells also leads on ratings volume (22 vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Pattern Pop's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). On rating, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Shells is free to download; Pattern Pop costs $1.99 up front. Shells sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Pattern Pop 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 — 5.0 for Shells against 5.0 for Pattern Pop. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 6 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shells | Pattern Pop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [5.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shells-nested-block-puzzle/id6661020395/reviews) | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pattern-pop-tile-puzzle-game/id6758681761/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#188** |
| Size | 102 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [arlybird games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764665157) | [Tony Ferraro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874424281) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Pattern Pop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pattern-pop-tile-puzzle-game/id6758681761)

**Currently charting:** #188 Top Paid · Casual (US App Store)

A minimalist tile-matching puzzle game with over 100 levels. Tap groups of identical tiles to clear the board and reach target scores. Enjoy a calm, ad-free experience with no timers or distractions.

**Highlights:** 100+ levels, Completely ad-free, No internet required, No account or tracking, Clean black-and-white aesthetic, Optional tip jar

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Buy Me a Coffee | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shells free?

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

### Is Pattern Pop free?

Pattern Pop costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shells or Pattern Pop?

Shells and Pattern Pop are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 22 and 6 ratings respectively.

### Do Shells or Pattern Pop have ads?

Shells shows ads; Pattern Pop does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shells or Pattern Pop?

Shells ships an update weekly, and Pattern Pop weekly. Most recently, Shells was updated on October 15, 2026 and Pattern Pop on October 6, 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.*