# Brain Stars vs Minesweeper Buddy

The clearest difference is ads: Brain Stars at none against Minesweeper Buddy's shown. Brain Stars also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brain Stars sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Minesweeper Buddy sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brain Stars | Minesweeper Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minesweeper-buddy/id6814356503/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 32 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kumari Rekha](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789014821) | [Thunder Buddy](https://appshunter.io/developer/6798351581) |

## What reviewers say

### Brain Stars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brain-stars/id6789014819)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


### Minesweeper Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minesweeper-buddy/id6814356503)

This classic puzzle game guarantees no guessing with solver-checked boards. Enjoy daily challenges, compete with friends in live duels, and utilize helpful hints. It offers various modes and customization options for a refined Minesweeper experience.

**Highlights:** Solver-checked boards guarantee no guessing, Daily Challenge with unique boards, Buddy Duel for live multiplayer races, Hint system with technique explanations, Multiple board sizes and difficulty levels, Offline play with Bolty Bot, Customizable themes and accessibility options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support, Fun Camera support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Thunder Buddy Pass | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brain Stars free?

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

### Is Minesweeper Buddy free?

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

### Do Brain Stars or Minesweeper Buddy have ads?

Minesweeper Buddy shows ads; Brain Stars does not.

### Which is updated more often, Brain Stars or Minesweeper Buddy?

Brain Stars ships an update every 3 days, and Minesweeper Buddy every 3 days. Most recently, Brain Stars was updated on October 25, 2026 and Minesweeper Buddy on October 29, 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.*