# Patch Monsters vs Sand Explorer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Patch Monsters at none against Sand Explorer's 10. Sand Explorer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sand Explorer sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Patch Monsters asks for nothing beyond the download.

Patch Monsters ships an update every 4 days, Sand Explorer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Patch Monsters | Sand Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-explorer/id6798584208/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **6** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Row0 Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896665067) | [TDD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782486810) |

## What reviewers say

### Patch Monsters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patch-monsters/id6781794359)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sand Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-explorer/id6798584208)

Engage in a relaxing puzzle game where you clear sand art by matching colors. Strategically choose buckets and send them onto a conveyor belt to fill them with matching sand, revealing the artwork layer by layer. Limited space requires careful planning to succeed.

**Highlights:** Tap-to-play color matching, Satisfying sand-flow effects, Limited queue space for planning, Playful pixel-style sand pictures, Progressive new color combinations, Relaxing rhythm with thoughtful challenge

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1000 Gold | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Gold | $5.99 | one-time |
| Small Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Special Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Gold | $11.99 | one-time |
| Great Pack | $18.99 | one-time |
| 30000 Gold | $29.99 | one-time |
| Epic Pack | $38.99 | one-time |
| 55000 Gold | $49.99 | one-time |
| 125000 Gold | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Patch Monsters free?

Patch Monsters is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sand Explorer free?

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

### Do Patch Monsters or Sand Explorer have ads?

Patch Monsters shows ads; Sand Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Patch Monsters or Sand Explorer?

Patch Monsters ships an update every 4 days, and Sand Explorer every 5 days. Most recently, Patch Monsters was updated on October 18, 2026 and Sand Explorer on October 13, 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.*