# Alpaca Ball vs Shoebill

The clearest difference is rating: Shoebill at 5.0 against Alpaca Ball's 3.0. Shoebill also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 18 months). Alpaca Ball's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 10.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shoebill sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Alpaca Ball asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shoebill holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

Alpaca Ball ships an update every 18 months, Shoebill every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alpaca Ball | Shoebill |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpaca-ball/id849390434/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shoebill/id6471561466/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 78.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 10.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [marge co., ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/331850369) | [Rik Leja](https://appshunter.io/developer/1636278698) |

## What reviewers say

### Alpaca Ball

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpaca-ball/id849390434)

Control an alpaca to rhythmically extend its neck and carry a beach ball. Avoid dropping the ball or letting it burst by being inserted into an alpaca. Progress through five stages to uncover the story's conclusion.

**Highlights:** Rhythmic neck extension gameplay, Beach ball carrying mechanic, Avoid falling or bursting the ball, Five distinct stages, Uncover a hidden story

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shoebill

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shoebill/id6471561466)

Control a shoebill in the Ugandan wetlands, swiping to move and tapping to eat. Battle creatures to become king of the swamp and upgrade your beak. Discover information about wetland animals.

**Highlights:** Swipe to control shoebill movement, Tap to eat animals, Battle large creatures, Upgradable beak strength, Unlockable beak skins, Animal information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version Of Shoebill | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alpaca Ball free?

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

### Is Shoebill free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Alpaca Ball or Shoebill?

Shoebill is rated higher. Alpaca Ball averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Shoebill averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Alpaca Ball or Shoebill have ads?

Neither Alpaca Ball nor Shoebill shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alpaca Ball or Shoebill?

Alpaca Ball ships an update every 18 months, and Shoebill every 3 months. Most recently, Alpaca Ball was updated on November 2, 2026 and Shoebill on November 4, 2026.

---

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