# On the line vs Blackbox

The clearest difference is price: Blackbox at Free against On the line's $0.99. Blackbox also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (109K vs 140). On the line's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Blackbox is free to download; On the line costs $0.99 up front. On the line sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Blackbox sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for On the line against 4.8 for Blackbox. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackbox has 109K ratings behind it against 140, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of On the line's written reviews are positive against 93% of Blackbox's.

On the line ships an update every 4 months, Blackbox every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | On the line | Blackbox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (140 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-the-line/id795845788/reviews) | **[4.8 (109K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbox/id962969578/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 140 | **109K** |
| Positive reviews | 77.6% of reviews | **92.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #173 | **#34** |
| Size | 62 MB | 209 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Kevin Choteau](https://appshunter.io/developer/795845791) | [Shapes and Stories LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/962969577) |

## What reviewers say

### On the line

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-the-line/id795845788)

**Currently charting:** #173 Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store)

Control your finger in a thrilling endless runner where you must stay on a constantly generated line. Unlock new game modes and challenges by completing objectives. Compete with friends on global leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Finger as main character, Generated mazes, Score comparison with monuments, Unlockable game modes, Game Center leaderboards

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all game modes | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Highly addictive and engaging gameplay
- 🎵 Excellent soundtrack and audio design
- 👍 Simple and intuitive mechanics
- 🎯 Perfect for casual gaming and time-filling
- 💡 Innovative and unique concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Hit detection inaccuracy
- 🎨 Lacks Retina display support
- 😴 Becomes repetitive over time
- ⚠️ Aggressive music (subjective)
- 🎮 Limited obstacle variety

**Reported bugs**

- False collision detection when finger not touching edges
- Moving obstacles don't accelerate with game speed
- Game continues when paused, causing unfair deaths
- Progress lost after app updates
- Game runs extremely slow after recent updates

**Requested features**

- More diverse obstacle patterns and track pieces
- Retina display support for sharper graphics
- Adjustable game screen size for different devices
- Additional measurement units besides centimeters
- Ability to skip certain level designs


### Blackbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbox/id962969578)

**Currently charting:** #34 Top Free · Trivia, #49 Top Grossing · Trivia (US App Store)

This puzzle game challenges you to solve intricate problems without touching the screen. It utilizes minimalistic visual cues, sonic interfaces, and haptic feedback to guide you through unique challenges that require thinking outside the box. Discover a new way to interact with your device and prove your cleverness.

**Highlights:** Touchless gameplay, Minimalistic visual clues, Sonic interfaces, Haptic feedback, External puzzle solving, Easter eggs

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tiny Hint Pack | $1.19 | one-time |
| Small Hint Pack | $2.39 | one-time |
| Erudite Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Push Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coffee for Ryan | $4.49 | one-time |
| Basic Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Hint Pack | $5.00 | one-time |
| All Knowing Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Large Hint Pack | $10.00 | one-time |
| Extra Large Hint Pack | $20.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Unique and creative gameplay
- 🤔 Challenges users to think outside the box
- 😄 Humorous and witty comments
- 🔑 Utilizes phone features in innovative ways

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Extremely challenging puzzles
- 💰 Expensive for additional content
- 🤖 Concerns about app accessing device permissions
- 🚗 Puzzles requiring travel/location are inaccessible for some

**Reported bugs**

- Hints not working as expected
- Progress reset after app update

**Requested features**

- Add ability to earn hint credits through watching ads
- Include more free puzzles
- Improve accessibility for users with limited mobility
- Provide better guidance and instructions for puzzles


## Frequently asked questions

### Is On the line free?

On the line costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Blackbox free?

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

### Which has better reviews, On the line or Blackbox?

Blackbox is rated higher. On the line averages 4.7 out of 5 from 140 ratings, while Blackbox averages 4.8 from 109K ratings.

### Do On the line or Blackbox have ads?

Neither On the line nor Blackbox shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, On the line or Blackbox?

On the line ships an update every 4 months, and Blackbox every 9 days. Most recently, On the line was updated on October 24, 2026 and Blackbox on October 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, On the line or Blackbox?

On the line currently peaks at #173 in the App Store charts, and Blackbox at #34. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*