# The Operator vs Mindhunter

The clearest difference is ads: The Operator at none against Mindhunter's shown. The Operator also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (510 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Operator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Mindhunter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for The Operator against 5.0 for Mindhunter. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Operator has 510 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

The Operator ships an update daily, Mindhunter every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Operator | Mindhunter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (510 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-operator/id6779664500/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindhunter-dossier/id6794834547/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **510** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 83.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 2 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 926 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Bureau 81](https://appshunter.io/developer/6779664502) | [Erdenay Karatas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862248942) |

## What reviewers say

### The Operator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-operator/id6779664500)

Step into the role of an Operator for the FDI, solving complex cases like murders and cyber attacks. Utilize advanced software to analyze evidence, assist field agents, and uncover the truth behind mind-bending mysteries. Your ingenuity is key to bringing criminals to justice and making the world a safer place.

**Highlights:** Investigate diverse criminal cases, Utilize cutting-edge FDI software, Analyze evidence and find clues, Assist field agents with fact-checking, Uncover mind-bending stories, Solve mysteries through deduction

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Game | $7.99 | one-time |


### Mindhunter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindhunter-dossier/id6794834547)

Step into the shoes of a detective to solve handcrafted noir crime cases. Examine evidence, interrogate suspects, and connect clues to identify the killer. Each solved case offers a unique keepsake in a moody, atmospheric interface.

**Highlights:** Handcrafted noir detective cases, Examine crime-scene evidence, Interrogate suspects, Connect clues on a deduction board, Make accusations to name the killer, Collect keepsakes from solved cases

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Detective Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Operator free?

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

### Is Mindhunter free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Operator or Mindhunter?

Mindhunter is rated higher. The Operator averages 4.9 out of 5 from 510 ratings, while Mindhunter averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do The Operator or Mindhunter have ads?

Mindhunter shows ads; The Operator does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Operator or Mindhunter?

The Operator ships an update daily, and Mindhunter every 2 days. Most recently, The Operator was updated on October 17, 2026 and Mindhunter on October 4, 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.*