# PocketPal vs Screen Pet

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PocketPal at 50% against Screen Pet's 0%. PocketPal also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PocketPal sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Screen Pet sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PocketPal holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of PocketPal's written reviews are positive against 0% of Screen Pet's.

PocketPal ships an update every 2 weeks, Screen Pet monthly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketPal | Screen Pet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketpal-pixel-widget/id6759291488/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-pet-virtual-buddy/id6767791604/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 285 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JUSTIN WEI SUN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874016949) | [Phuc Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893081423) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketpal-pixel-widget/id6759291488)

Adopt and care for a virtual pixel art pet that lives on your device's Home Screen. Keep your companion happy, healthy, and fed through interactive widgets, and customize their appearance with unlockable outfits and backgrounds.

**Highlights:** Virtual pixel pet companion, Home Screen widget integration, Interactive pet care, Customizable outfits and backgrounds, Unlockable content, Multiple animal choices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 250 Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $29.99 | one-time |


### Screen Pet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-pet-virtual-buddy/id6767791604)

Care for a virtual companion that lives on your phone screen. Feed, clean, and play with your digital pet as it grows from baby to adult, responding to your interactions with unique animations and sounds. Enjoy a full simulation experience offline, with no ads or accounts required.

**Highlights:** Virtual pet care simulation, Interactive animations and sounds, Pet growth from baby to adult, Offline play with no ads, Customizable pet appearance and environment, Daily missions and rewards

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketPal free?

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

### Is Screen Pet free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PocketPal or Screen Pet?

PocketPal is rated higher. PocketPal averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Screen Pet averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do PocketPal or Screen Pet have ads?

Neither PocketPal nor Screen Pet shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketPal or Screen Pet?

PocketPal ships an update every 2 weeks, and Screen Pet monthly. Most recently, PocketPal was updated on October 31, 2026 and Screen Pet on October 31, 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.*