# Smash’em Up! vs Vertex Core

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smash’em Up! at none against Vertex Core's 1. Smash’em Up! also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Vertex Core's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Vertex Core sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Smash’em Up! asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smash’em Up! ships an update every 2 weeks, Vertex Core daily. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smash’em Up! | Vertex Core |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smashem-up/id6753736324/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 79 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1839832764) | [SPRUCE PROJECT, Y.K.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772068510) |

## What reviewers say

### Smash’em Up!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smashem-up/id6753736324)

Test your reflexes in this addictive arcade tapper where you tap and smash endless waves of bugs. Build combos, avoid bombs, and face challenging boss battles. Simple to learn but difficult to master, it's perfect for quick gaming sessions.

**Highlights:** Intuitive one-tap controls, Endless progression with increasing challenge, Skill-based combo system, Boss battles, Rare bug variants, Local high-score tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Vertex Core

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vertex-core/id6795488721)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vertex Core Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smash’em Up! free?

Smash’em Up! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Vertex Core free?

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

### Do Smash’em Up! or Vertex Core have ads?

Smash’em Up! shows ads; Vertex Core does not.

### Which is updated more often, Smash’em Up! or Vertex Core?

Smash’em Up! ships an update every 2 weeks, and Vertex Core daily. Most recently, Smash’em Up! was updated on October 8, 2026 and Vertex Core on September 29, 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.*