# Matching Diary vs Merge Magic Academy

The clearest difference is update cadence: Matching Diary at every 2 weeks against Merge Magic Academy's every 2 months. Matching Diary also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Merge Magic Academy's advantage is review sentiment (38% vs 17%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Matching Diary sells 18 one-off in-app purchases and Merge Magic Academy sells 15 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Merge Magic Academy holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 170 and 345 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Matching Diary's written reviews are positive against 38% of Merge Magic Academy's.

Matching Diary ships an update every 2 weeks, Merge Magic Academy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Matching Diary | Merge Magic Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (170 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matching-diary/id6736890718/reviews) | **[4.9 (345 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-magic-academy/id6746467003/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 170 | **345** |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **37.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 884 MB | 397 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [JOYPLAY PTE.LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1611138004) | [ZYMobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/945646206) |

## What reviewers say

### Matching Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matching-diary/id6736890718)

Engage in a casual puzzle game that blends match-3 mechanics with card collection and merge elements. Challenge yourself with various modes, collect hundreds of unique cards to create illustrations, and join a guild for social interaction and rewards. Compete for top rankings and earn season prizes.

**Highlights:** Classic match-3 gameplay, Card collection and illustration creation, Merge elements, Multiple game modes, Guild system for social interaction, Real-time personal rankings, Season rewards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shop Product 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 3 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 4 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $6.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 7 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 8 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 15 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 20 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 25 | $24.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 30 | $29.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 40 | $39.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 50 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 55 | $54.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 80 | $79.99 | one-time |
| Shop Product 100 | $99.99 | one-time |


### Merge Magic Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-magic-academy/id6746467003)

Embark on a magical adventure to restore order to a chaotic academy by using merging spells. Combine items to create astonishing new ones, solve mysteries, and deliver enchanted goods. Enjoy addictive gameplay with a soothing art style.

**Highlights:** Merge items to create new ones, Solve magical mysteries, Deliver enchanted goods, Unlock secrets of the magic city, Addictive merging mechanics, Soothing art style

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 80_Diamond | $1.99 | one-time |
| Endless_Reward_Level_1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Energy_gift | $1.99 | one-time |
| Endless_Reward_Level_2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Endless_Reward_Level_3 | $3.99 | one-time |
| battlepass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily_Bundle_4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 240_Diamond | $4.99 | one-time |
| piggy0 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starter_gift | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily_Bundle_5 | $7.99 | one-time |
| SuperBattlePass | $7.99 | one-time |
| 580_Diamond | $9.99 | one-time |
| Daily_Bundle_6 | $9.99 | one-time |
| piggy2 | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Matching Diary free?

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

### Is Merge Magic Academy free?

Merge Magic Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Matching Diary or Merge Magic Academy?

Merge Magic Academy is rated higher. Matching Diary averages 4.7 out of 5 from 170 ratings, while Merge Magic Academy averages 4.9 from 345 ratings.

### Do Matching Diary or Merge Magic Academy have ads?

Neither Matching Diary nor Merge Magic Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Matching Diary or Merge Magic Academy?

Matching Diary ships an update every 2 weeks, and Merge Magic Academy every 2 months. Most recently, Matching Diary was updated on October 22, 2026 and Merge Magic Academy 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.*