# POOLS™ vs Dou Dizhu

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dou Dizhu at none against POOLS™'s 1. Dou Dizhu also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). POOLS™'s advantage is ratings volume (1.7K vs 45). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dou Dizhu asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dou Dizhu holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: POOLS™ has 1.7K ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of POOLS™'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Dou Dizhu's.

POOLS™ ships an update monthly, Dou Dizhu every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | POOLS™ | Dou Dizhu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews) | **[4.7 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dou-dizhu/id6749582083/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 45 |
| Positive reviews | 79.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) | [June Ninth LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1105158588) |

## What reviewers say

### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


### Dou Dizhu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dou-dizhu/id6749582083)

Experience the classic Chinese card game, Dou Dizhu, with authentic gameplay and smooth performance. This addictive, fast-paced game challenges you to outplay opponents with strategic card combinations. Enjoy a distraction-free experience focused purely on the thrill of the game.

**Highlights:** Authentic Dou Dizhu gameplay, Intuitive controls, Smart AI opponents, Fast and smooth experience, No ads or distractions, Ranked challenges

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is POOLS™ free?

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

### Is Dou Dizhu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, POOLS™ or Dou Dizhu?

Dou Dizhu is rated higher. POOLS™ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Dou Dizhu averages 4.7 from 45 ratings.

### Do POOLS™ or Dou Dizhu have ads?

Neither POOLS™ nor Dou Dizhu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, POOLS™ or Dou Dizhu?

POOLS™ ships an update monthly, and Dou Dizhu every 2 days. Most recently, POOLS™ was updated on October 24, 2026 and Dou Dizhu on October 24, 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.*