# PocketPal vs ScreenMagic

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ScreenMagic at 100% against PocketPal's 50%. ScreenMagic also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3). PocketPal's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PocketPal sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and ScreenMagic sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScreenMagic holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of PocketPal's written reviews are positive against 100% of ScreenMagic's.

PocketPal ships an update every 2 weeks, ScreenMagic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketPal | ScreenMagic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketpal-pixel-widget/id6759291488/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screenmagic-magic-tricks/id6804533646/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 285 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JUSTIN WEI SUN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874016949) | [ServiceWizard LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1825746997) |

## 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 |


### ScreenMagic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screenmagic-magic-tricks/id6804533646)

Transform your phone into a visual magic performance tool. Make objects appear on your screen and create illusions of pulling them out. Customize and perform unlimited magic tricks.

**Highlights:** Perform with cards, coins, and business cards, Import and photograph custom objects, Create motion-reactive effects, Use your Home Screen for performances, Save custom objects for reuse, Perform unlimited illusions with Pro

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ScreenMagic Pro Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| ScreenMagic Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| ScreenMagic Pro Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketPal free?

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

### Is ScreenMagic free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PocketPal or ScreenMagic?

ScreenMagic is rated higher. PocketPal averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ScreenMagic averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do PocketPal or ScreenMagic have ads?

Neither PocketPal nor ScreenMagic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketPal or ScreenMagic?

PocketPal ships an update every 2 weeks, and ScreenMagic every 3 weeks. Most recently, PocketPal was updated on November 5, 2026 and ScreenMagic 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.*