# StareMaster vs Steve

The clearest difference is ads: Steve at none against StareMaster's shown. Steve also leads on ratings volume (30 vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StareMaster sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Steve sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for StareMaster against 4.9 for Steve. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Steve has 30 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

StareMaster ships an update every 2 days, Steve every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StareMaster | Steve |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staremaster/id733342409/reviews)** | [4.9 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steve-the-game/id6738590150/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **30** |
| Positive reviews | — | 95.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 89 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Magnate Interactive Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/303058770) | [Tyler Hall](https://appshunter.io/developer/294487103) |

## What reviewers say

### StareMaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/staremaster/id733342409)

Test your willpower in a digital staring contest. Use your device's camera to lock eyes with animated opponents and avoid blinking to win. Compete in different modes, challenge friends, and climb leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Real-time face tracking, Animated 3D opponents, Versus mode, Endless Stare-a-thon mode, Multiple difficulty levels, Game Center leaderboards and achievements, On-device processing for privacy

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StareMaster Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


### Steve

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steve-the-game/id6738590150)

A casual puzzle game where players fill a grid with the correct number of blocks. It offers a new challenge daily and allows you to compete with friends. Simple to pick up but hard to master.

**Highlights:** Grid-filling puzzles, Daily new puzzles, Beat your friends, Easy to learn, Difficult to master

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Steve Experience | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive and engaging gameplay
- 🧩 Variety of puzzle sizes to cater to different player preferences
- 💲 Reasonable one-time purchase for full version without ads or subscriptions
- 👪 Appeal to players of all skill levels, from casual to serious
- 📱 Flexible gameplay for quick brain breaks or longer sessions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of challenging levels for some experienced players


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StareMaster free?

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

### Is Steve free?

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

### Which has better reviews, StareMaster or Steve?

StareMaster is rated higher. StareMaster averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Steve averages 4.9 from 30 ratings.

### Do StareMaster or Steve have ads?

StareMaster shows ads; Steve does not.

### Which is updated more often, StareMaster or Steve?

StareMaster ships an update every 2 days, and Steve every 3 days. Most recently, StareMaster was updated on October 24, 2026 and Steve on October 20, 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.*