# Pulse Citadel vs DEADGRID

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pulse Citadel at daily against DEADGRID's every 2 days. DEADGRID's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 67%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pulse Citadel sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and DEADGRID sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DEADGRID holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DEADGRID has 53 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Pulse Citadel's written reviews are positive against 92% of DEADGRID's.

Pulse Citadel ships an update daily, DEADGRID every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pulse Citadel | DEADGRID |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-citadel/id6779441554/reviews) | **[4.8 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deadgrid/id6790152649/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **53** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **92.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 2 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 414 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Blindsided Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1538856129) | [Afonso Quinaz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1608817674) |

## What reviewers say

### Pulse Citadel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-citadel/id6779441554)

Engage in a compact sci-fi defense experience where you bring a dormant machine to life. Launch combat simulations, convert defeated enemies into energy, and strategically expand your defense system through a research grid. Unlock powerful weapons and abilities to overcome waves of adversaries.

**Highlights:** Hand-authored research grid, Automated Citadel combat, Unlockable weapons, Active abilities, Prestige rebuild perks, Local progression tracking

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Game Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |


### DEADGRID

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deadgrid/id6790152649)

Experience intense arcade zombie survival with endless waves and permadeath. Master an arsenal of 33 weapons, strategically deploy defenses, and choose dynamic upgrades to conquer the apocalypse. Customize your survivor and enjoy pure, optimized gameplay.

**Highlights:** Endless zombie waves, Permadeath runs, 33 unlockable weapons, Strategic deployables and turrets, Dynamic upgrade system, Four zombie types with advanced AI, Customizable survivor skins

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scrap | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cache | $4.99 | one-time |
| Crate | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pallet | $19.99 | one-time |
| Container | $49.99 | one-time |
| Motherlode | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pulse Citadel free?

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

### Is DEADGRID free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pulse Citadel or DEADGRID?

DEADGRID is rated higher. Pulse Citadel averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while DEADGRID averages 4.8 from 53 ratings.

### Do Pulse Citadel or DEADGRID have ads?

Neither Pulse Citadel nor DEADGRID shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pulse Citadel or DEADGRID?

Pulse Citadel ships an update daily, and DEADGRID every 2 days. Most recently, Pulse Citadel was updated on October 6, 2026 and DEADGRID on October 12, 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.*