# 2048 vs ^2048

The clearest difference is review sentiment: 2048 at 82% against ^2048's 0%. 2048 also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 35 months) and ratings volume (380 vs 14). ^2048's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 2048 sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. ^2048 asks for nothing beyond the download.

2048 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 2048 has 380 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of 2048's written reviews are positive against 0% of ^2048's.

2048 ships an update every 2 months, ^2048 every 35 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 2048 | ^2048 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (380 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2048-whiteout/id861459615/reviews)** | [4.3 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2048/id866909256/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **380** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **82.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 35 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 28 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [That Peachey Thing](https://appshunter.io/developer/511298455) | [Green Boss](https://appshunter.io/developer/349922072) |

## What reviewers say

### 2048

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2048-whiteout/id861459615)

Slide and merge colored tiles to reach the ultimate white tile. Challenge yourself to achieve a high score and unlock numerous achievements. Customize your experience with various themes and board sizes.

**Highlights:** Swipe to merge colored tiles, Reach the white tile goal, High score challenges, 12 color themes, 3 board sizes, 22 unlockable achievements

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Handful of Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 4 Tile Delete | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50,000 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Shuffle 5 Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stack of Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pile of Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| White Out Pro | $5.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Coins | $7.99 | one-time |
| Vault of Coins | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive game
- 💡 Unique color-based gameplay
- 🎨 Beautiful color themes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚨 Excessive ads that disrupt gameplay
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Paid features not working as expected

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save progress and scores
- Themes not unlocking despite having enough coins

**Requested features**

- Custom color theme creation
- Option to purchase ad-free version
- Improved performance and stability


### ^2048

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/2048/id866909256)

A simple yet addictive puzzle game where players slide numbered tiles to combine them and reach the 2048 tile. Experience classic gameplay inspired by a popular web-based puzzle.

**Highlights:** Number tile merging, Classic puzzle gameplay, Intuitive sliding controls, Goal-oriented challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 2048 free?

2048 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ^2048 free?

^2048 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 2048 or ^2048?

2048 is rated higher. 2048 averages 4.5 out of 5 from 380 ratings, while ^2048 averages 4.3 from 14 ratings.

### Do 2048 or ^2048 have ads?

2048 shows ads; ^2048 does not.

### Which is updated more often, 2048 or ^2048?

2048 ships an update every 2 months, and ^2048 every 35 months. Most recently, 2048 was updated on October 14, 2026 and ^2048 on October 2, 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.*