Comparison

Circle Sort vs Screw Machine

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Circle Sort

A physics-based puzzle game where players match ring colors to clear the board. Strategically place circles to avoid hitting the line and complete level objectives.

Highlights
  • Physics-based gameplay
  • Color matching mechanics
  • Strategic circle placement
  • Level-based objectives
  • Avoid hitting the line
Features
Read full description

Circle Sort is a fresh physics puzzle game where you have to match the colors to clear the rings. Drop the circles to the right spot, clear some space and complete the goals! Strategize your circle placements to win, but beware to not hit the line or it's game over!

About

Screw Machine

This game offers a unique twist on color-sorting puzzles. Instead of stacking, you release screws onto a spinning machine, timing your taps to thread each color into its matching plate. Fill all plates to win, but beware of overloading the rail and jamming the machine.

Highlights
  • Color-sorting screw puzzle
  • Spinning machine gameplay
  • Timing-based screw threading
  • Level-based progression
  • Special game-changing parts
  • Offline play
Features
Read full description

Screw Machine is a color-sorting screw puzzle with a moving twist. Instead of stacking screws onto a bolt, you spill screws onto a spinning machine and let timing do the sorting. Tap a panel drop its screws onto the rail, and watch each color thread itself into its matching plate as the ring carries it around. Fill every plate to win. Overload the rail and the whole machine seizes up. HOW THE MACHINE WORKS • Tap a panel to loosen its screws onto the spinning rail • Four color plates sit around the ring — each one takes three screws of its color • As the machine turns, every screw passing its matching plate drives itself in • Fill a plate and it locks shut; the next color rolls up behind it • Clear all the plates to finish the level KEEP IT TURNING • The rail only holds so many screws, release colors with nowhere to go and it jams solid • Read the machine before you tap: open the panels whose colors have an open plate • No move counter, no timer, you only lose if the rail jams for good • Every level is a small sorting puzzle built to be untangled PARTS THAT CHANGE THE GAME • Mystery plates: The next color stays hidden behind a "?" until it rolls into place • Gates: Run a screw through and it splits into more • Tunnels: Feed a whole extra run of panels onto the board • Arrows: Panels that you can only unlock from a certain direction WHY IT'S HARD TO PUT DOWN • A fresh, tactile spin on the nuts and bolts puzzles you already love • One-tap, simple, with real timing and planning underneath • Hand-built levels that stay clever without ever feeling like work • Oddly satisfying to watch, screws driving home, plates locking in sequence • Play offline, anywhere, no wifi needed • Free to play, with lives that refill over time Loosen the screws. Run the machine. Sort every color.

Screenshots

Circle Sort4 screens
Screw Machine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Screw Machine at 4.9 against Circle Sort's 4.0. Screw Machine also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (841 vs 10). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Circle Sort sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Screw Machine sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screw Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screw Machine has 841 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Circle Sort's written reviews are positive against 57% of Screw Machine's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Circle Sort ships an update monthly, Screw Machine every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Circle Sort versus Screw Machine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCircle SortScrew Machine
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (10 ratings)4.9 (841 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings10841 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size279 MB430 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGame5mobileTwist Games

Customer experience

Circle Sort

All ratings10 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

Screw Machine

All ratings841 ratings
Positive98.8%
Neutral0.5%
Negative0.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Circle Sort

One-time10
  • 100 Coins$0.99
  • Starter Pack$1.99
  • Revive Offer$4.99
Show 7 more
  • 500 Coins$6.99
  • Remove Ads Bundle$9.99
  • 1000 Coins$14.99
  • 5000 Coins$24.99
  • Circle Plus$39.99
  • Circle Deluxe$79.99
  • Circle Master$99.99
10 purchases

Screw Machine

One-time10
  • 1000 Coins$1.99
  • Fail Offer$4.99
  • 5000 Coins$7.99
Show 7 more
  • No Ads$7.99
  • Screw Pass$9.99
  • Small Bundle$9.99
  • No Ads Bundle$12.99
  • 10000 Coins$14.99
  • Medium Bundle$19.99
  • Large Bundle$29.99

Questions

Is Circle Sort free?
Circle Sort is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screw Machine free?
Screw Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Circle Sort or Screw Machine?
Screw Machine is rated higher. Circle Sort averages 4.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Screw Machine averages 4.9 from 841 ratings.
Do Circle Sort or Screw Machine have ads?
Both Circle Sort and Screw Machine show ads.
Which is updated more often, Circle Sort or Screw Machine?
Circle Sort ships an update monthly, and Screw Machine every 4 days. Most recently, Circle Sort was updated on November 8, 2026 and Screw Machine on November 8, 2026.

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