# Make a Bonsai vs FathomVerse

The clearest difference is rating: FathomVerse at 4.7 against Make a Bonsai's 3.6. FathomVerse also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 55%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 19 months). Make a Bonsai's advantage is iOS requirement (10.1 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FathomVerse holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 92 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Make a Bonsai's written reviews are positive against 86% of FathomVerse's.

Make a Bonsai ships an update every 19 months, FathomVerse every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Make a Bonsai | FathomVerse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/make-a-bonsai/id696977286/reviews) | **[4.7 (92 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathomverse/id6469854247/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **92** |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 29 MB | 284 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bust Out Solutions, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/429552521) | [Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/997448509) |

## What reviewers say

### Make a Bonsai

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/make-a-bonsai/id696977286)

Design and cultivate your own virtual bonsai tree from an infinite variety of species and starting points. Experiment with trimming techniques, learn about bonsai history, and even visit real bonsai gardens.

**Highlights:** Create virtual bonsai trees, Choose from multiple species, Trim branches for unique designs, Select pots for display, View in virtual collection, Learn bonsai tradition facts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### FathomVerse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathomverse/id6469854247)

Explore the ocean world through an immersive game that trains AI for scientific research. Discover and identify over 50 groups of ocean animals using real imagery collected by researchers. Contribute to science while playing minigames, completing quests, and earning badges.

**Highlights:** Play minigames with real ocean imagery, Identify over 50 groups of ocean animals, Save and share favorite images, Participate in quests and earn badges, Unlock awards for gameplay contributions, Customize soundscape with Ocean Radio

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Relaxing and peaceful experience
- 🔍 Opportunity to contribute to ocean research
- 🌟 Stunning visuals and immersive environment
- 🧠 Educational content on marine life
- 🤝 Responsive and helpful development team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and inconsistent user interface
- 🤔 Unclear instructions and onboarding process
- ⏱️ Slow and tedious core gameplay loop
- 🔍 Lack of ability to re-examine animal images
- 🧭 Inconsistent controls between different sections


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Make a Bonsai free?

Make a Bonsai is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FathomVerse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Make a Bonsai or FathomVerse?

FathomVerse is rated higher. Make a Bonsai averages 3.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while FathomVerse averages 4.7 from 92 ratings.

### Do Make a Bonsai or FathomVerse have ads?

Neither Make a Bonsai nor FathomVerse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Make a Bonsai or FathomVerse?

Make a Bonsai ships an update every 19 months, and FathomVerse every 6 weeks. Most recently, Make a Bonsai was updated on October 22, 2026 and FathomVerse on October 24, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*