# John Mad Run vs Vault!

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: John Mad Run at none against Vault!'s 4. John Mad Run also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 11.0). Vault!'s advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (77 vs 12). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Vault! sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. John Mad Run asks for nothing beyond the download.

Vault! holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Vault! has 77 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of John Mad Run's written reviews are positive against 71% of Vault!'s.

John Mad Run ships an update every 3 months, Vault! every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | John Mad Run | Vault! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-mad-run/id844148083/reviews) | **[4.5 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vault/id1009227147/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **77** |
| Positive reviews | 62.2% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 41 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Happymagenta UAB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1105393733) | [Nitrome](https://appshunter.io/developer/568079484) |

## What reviewers say

### John Mad Run

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-mad-run/id844148083)

Embark on a relentless fight for survival as John, a target with deadly skills. Wield powerful weapons like a laser and sword to decimate hordes of enemies, master your reflexes to dodge traps, and leave a trail of bloody destruction.

**Highlights:** Intense run'n'gun gameplay, Unlockable laser weapon, Melee combat with a sword, Dodge deadly traps, High-octane enemy elimination

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive and fun gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Retro pixel art style with good graphics
- 🎵 Great soundtrack and audio design
- 💰 Minimal in-app purchases and ads
- ⚡ Simple and easy to pick up controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Screen display issues (half screen visibility)
- 🐛 Unresponsive and buggy controls
- 🐛 Weapon firing lag and unresponsiveness
- 🐛 Secondary weapon (knife/sword) stops working mid-run

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch (iOS 17)
- Screen only displays half the game interface
- Controls unresponsive to swipe inputs
- Firing mechanism requires rapid tapping to work
- Knife/sword stops functioning after 2-3 runs

**Requested features**

- More weapons and gun variety
- Character customization and outfit options
- Power-ups and special abilities
- Boss encounters and story mode
- Multiple level maps and scenery changes


### Vault!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vault/id1009227147)

Experience thrilling pole vaulting with intuitive tap-and-hold controls. Navigate challenging environments, collect coins to unlock characters, and compete for the highest score. Enjoy endless arcade fun with physics-based challenges.

**Highlights:** Intuitive single-touch pole vaulting, Physics-based arcade action, Unlockable unique characters, Game Center support for competition, Coin collection for upgrades

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy Coins 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy Coins 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Buy Coins 3 | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🎨 Retro graphics and animations
- 💡 Innovative pole vaulting mechanic
- 🎉 Great time-waster game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 💰 Intrusive ads and in-app purchases
- 🔁 Lack of content variety after unlocking all characters

**Reported bugs**

- Pole glitching out after continuing from an ad
- Respawning in unwinnable positions after continuing
- Invisible walls causing unexpected deaths

**Requested features**

- More playable characters with unique abilities
- Different game modes (e.g., time trial, challenges)
- Varied environments and level designs
- Customization options for the vaulting pole


## Frequently asked questions

### Is John Mad Run free?

John Mad Run is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Vault! free?

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

### Which has better reviews, John Mad Run or Vault!?

Vault! is rated higher. John Mad Run averages 4.2 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Vault! averages 4.5 from 77 ratings.

### Do John Mad Run or Vault! have ads?

Vault! shows ads; John Mad Run does not.

### Which is updated more often, John Mad Run or Vault!?

John Mad Run ships an update every 3 months, and Vault! every 5 months. Most recently, John Mad Run was updated on October 10, 2026 and Vault! on October 13, 2026.

---

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