# Small Fry vs Lava Hopper

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lava Hopper at none against Small Fry's 9. Lava Hopper also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Small Fry's advantage is iOS requirement (5.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Small Fry sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Lava Hopper asks for nothing beyond the download.

Small Fry ships an update every 2 months, Lava Hopper every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Small Fry | Lava Hopper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (219 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/small-fry/id734609210/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **219** | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 81 MB | 167 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Noodlecake](https://appshunter.io/developer/370828169) | [Magmat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1784724930) |

## What reviewers say

### Small Fry

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/small-fry/id734609210)

Embark on a thrilling ocean adventure as a tiny fish evading predators and obstacles. Navigate through water, air, and space with simple controls, utilizing power-ups and completing challenges. Compete with others on leaderboards and customize your character.

**Highlights:** One-touch controls, Seamless water, air, and space transitions, Upgradable power-ups, 60+ challenges, Achievements and leaderboards, Character customization

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2,000 Clam Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Pearl Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Clam Doubler | $3.99 | one-time |
| 12,000 Clam Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| 60 Pearl Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| 30,000 Clam Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 150 Pearl Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 Clam Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| 500 Pearl Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive and fun gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Excellent graphics and visual design
- ✨ Smooth and responsive gameplay
- 🆓 No mandatory purchases to progress
- 🎯 Clever strategic elements (water/air/space divisions)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and force closes
- 📱 Incompatible with newer iOS versions
- 📺 Excessive ads throughout gameplay
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🎮 Repetitive gameplay and limited content variety

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup or during gameplay
- Force close on iOS 6.1.5 and older versions
- Incompatible with iOS 11 and newer versions
- Black screen at loading
- In-app purchase transactions not processing

**Requested features**

- Update app for current iOS versions and iPad compatibility
- Option to remove ads permanently
- More diverse enemies and environmental variations
- Improved control mechanics and responsiveness
- New game modes and challenges


### Lava Hopper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-hopper/id6740501210)

Embark on a surreal journey through a world consumed by lava, from a chaotic circus to a futuristic ghetto and a rainbow realm. Uncover ancient truths and embrace the unknown to adapt and unlock mysteries.

**Highlights:** Surreal journey through diverse realms, Uncover ancient truths, Embrace the unknown, Adapt to changing realities, Unlock mysteries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Small Fry free?

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

### Is Lava Hopper free?

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

### Do Small Fry or Lava Hopper have ads?

Neither Small Fry nor Lava Hopper shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Small Fry or Lava Hopper?

Small Fry ships an update every 2 months, and Lava Hopper every 3 weeks. Most recently, Small Fry was updated on November 4, 2026 and Lava Hopper on November 4, 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.*