# Sand Explorer vs Hidden Object

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hidden Object at none against Sand Explorer's 16. Sand Explorer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sand Explorer sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Hidden Object asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sand Explorer ships an update every 5 days, Hidden Object monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sand Explorer | Hidden Object |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sand-explorer/id6798584208/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **23** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 189 MB | 288 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TDD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782486810) | [Dinh Cong Son](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867374900) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1000 Gold | $1.99 | one-time |
| Explorer’s Treasure | $3.99 | one-time |
| Medium Bundle | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Gold | $5.99 | one-time |
| Small Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Epic Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Special Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Gold | $11.99 | one-time |
| Great Pack | $18.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |
| 25000 Gold | $29.99 | one-time |
| 30000 Gold | $29.99 | one-time |
| 55000 Gold | $49.99 | one-time |
| 50000 Gold | $54.99 | one-time |
| 100000 Gold | $99.99 | one-time |
| 125000 Gold | $99.99 | one-time |


### Hidden Object

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hidden-object-find-tanuki/id6799401523)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sand Explorer free?

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

### Is Hidden Object free?

Hidden Object is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Sand Explorer or Hidden Object have ads?

Hidden Object shows ads; Sand Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sand Explorer or Hidden Object?

Sand Explorer ships an update every 5 days, and Hidden Object monthly. Most recently, Sand Explorer was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hidden Object on October 25, 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.*