# Blackbar vs Puzzmo

The clearest difference is price: Puzzmo at Free against Blackbar's $2.99. Puzzmo also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months). Blackbar's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, ratings volume, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Puzzmo is free to download; Blackbar costs $2.99 up front. Puzzmo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Blackbar asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.6 for Blackbar against 3.7 for Puzzmo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 97 and 172 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Blackbar's written reviews are positive against 43% of Puzzmo's.

Blackbar ships an update every 7 months, Puzzmo every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackbar | Puzzmo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.6 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbar/id672002602/reviews) | **[3.7 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzmo-solve-smile-share/id6714482734/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 97 | **172** |
| Positive reviews | **65.6% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#74** | #126 |
| Size | 3 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.7** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Mrgan LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/320710721) | [Puzzmo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770315222) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackbar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbar/id672002602)

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Paid · Word (US App Store)

Experience a sci-fi narrative of a dystopian future through engaging word puzzles. This text-based game uses a unique censorship mechanic to challenge players, offering a blend of frustration and intellectual satisfaction.

**Highlights:** Text-based sci-fi story, Word puzzle gameplay, Unique censorship mechanic, Dystopian future narrative, Challenging and thought-provoking

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Clever and unique gameplay
- 👍 Engaging and thought-provoking story
- 🤔 Challenging puzzles and word games

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Too short for the price
- 🤯 Some puzzles too obscure or difficult
- 🐛 Bugs and compatibility issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes on certain devices
- Inability to progress past initial screen

**Requested features**

- Longer gameplay and expanded story
- More levels or chapters
- Hints or clues for difficult puzzles


### Puzzmo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzmo-solve-smile-share/id6714482734)

**Currently charting:** #126 Top Grossing · Word (US App Store)

Discover a universe of daily puzzles with original games and modern classics. Enjoy word puzzles, strategy games, and crosswords with helpful hints. It's a free and engaging way to challenge your mind.

**Highlights:** Daily original puzzles, Classic puzzle games, Word puzzles, Strategy games, Crosswords with hints, Memory and matching games

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzmo Plus (monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Puzzmo Plus | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth app experience
- 🎮 Variety of classic games
- 👍 High-quality puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Suboptimal UI/UX
- 📱 Lacks iPad optimization
- 💰 Subscription model concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Crossword clues not locking in correctly
- Transitions between games could be smoother

**Requested features**

- Ability to resume games from where left off
- Numerical order for crossword clues
- Remove subscription, keep account option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackbar free?

Blackbar costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Puzzmo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Blackbar or Puzzmo?

Puzzmo is rated higher. Blackbar averages 3.6 out of 5 from 97 ratings, while Puzzmo averages 3.7 from 172 ratings.

### Do Blackbar or Puzzmo have ads?

Puzzmo shows ads; Blackbar does not.

### Which is updated more often, Blackbar or Puzzmo?

Blackbar ships an update every 7 months, and Puzzmo every 3 weeks. Most recently, Blackbar was updated on October 15, 2026 and Puzzmo on October 14, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Blackbar or Puzzmo?

Blackbar currently peaks at #74 in the App Store charts, and Puzzmo at #126. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*