# Pente for iMessage vs DoodleBack

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pente for iMessage at none against DoodleBack's 6. Pente for iMessage also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). DoodleBack's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (45 vs 5). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DoodleBack sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Pente for iMessage asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pente for iMessage holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DoodleBack has 45 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Pente for iMessage's written reviews are positive against 94% of DoodleBack's.

Pente for iMessage ships an update every 2 months, DoodleBack every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pente for iMessage | DoodleBack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pente-for-imessage/id6748970073/reviews)** | [4.8 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodleback/id6755615366/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **45** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 94.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cole Bart Madden](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828319427) | [BERG LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/545395845) |

## What reviewers say

### Pente for iMessage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pente-for-imessage/id6748970073)

Engage in a classic strategy board game directly within your messaging app. Challenge friends and family by placing stones to form five in a row or capture opponent pieces. Enjoy simple rules with deep strategic possibilities, all without leaving your conversations.

**Highlights:** Play directly in iMessage, Classic Pente gameplay, Five-in-a-row objective, Stone capture mechanics, Automatic move validation, Game state saved in history

**Features:** iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none


### DoodleBack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodleback/id6755615366)

Transform iMessage into a fun drawing and guessing game. Pick a word, draw it, and send it to a friend to guess. Continue the drawing chain, earn points, and enjoy a unique way to connect.

**Highlights:** Play directly in iMessage, Thousands of word prompts, Custom prompt creation, Smart hint system, Undo/redo drawing tools, Score and streak tracking, Drawing history view

**Features:** iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Handful (75 Coins) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pouch (600 Coins) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Chest (1500 Coins) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Cart (3500 Coins) | $19.99 | one-time |
| Vault (10000 Coins) | $49.99 | one-time |
| Pirate Ship (25000 Coins) | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pente for iMessage free?

Pente for iMessage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DoodleBack free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pente for iMessage or DoodleBack?

Pente for iMessage is rated higher. Pente for iMessage averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while DoodleBack averages 4.8 from 45 ratings.

### Do Pente for iMessage or DoodleBack have ads?

Neither Pente for iMessage nor DoodleBack shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pente for iMessage or DoodleBack?

Pente for iMessage ships an update every 2 months, and DoodleBack every 9 days. Most recently, Pente for iMessage was updated on October 2, 2026 and DoodleBack on October 13, 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.*