# FOTONICA vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is price: POOLS™ at Free against FOTONICA's $4.99. POOLS™ also leads on ratings volume (1.6K vs 71) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). FOTONICA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

POOLS™ is free to download; FOTONICA costs $4.99 up front. POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FOTONICA asks for nothing beyond the download.

POOLS™ holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: POOLS™ has 1.6K ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of FOTONICA's written reviews are positive against 79% of POOLS™'s.

FOTONICA ships an update every 6 months, POOLS™ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FOTONICA | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fotonica/id871197819/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 71 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 71.6% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 197 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Santa Ragione s.r.l.](https://appshunter.io/developer/462796287) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### FOTONICA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fotonica/id871197819)

Experience the thrill of high-speed first-person running through complex environments. Master one-handed controls for running, jumping, and diving. Compete with friends in split-screen multiplayer or aim for high scores in endless modes.

**Highlights:** First-person running gameplay, One-handed controls, 8 distinct levels, Procedural endless mode, Split-screen multiplayer, Unlockable achievements, Online leaderboards

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Beautifully crafted game
- 👍 Unique and captivating gameplay
- 🎨 Stunning visuals and aesthetics
- 🎶 Relaxing and immersive soundtrack

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Music not working on some devices
- 🖥️ Lack of support for newer devices and screen sizes

**Reported bugs**

- Music cutting out during gameplay
- Jumping and controls not responsive at times
- Crashes and freezes on certain devices

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Multiplayer or online features
- Customization options
- VR support


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FOTONICA free?

FOTONICA costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is POOLS™ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FOTONICA or POOLS™?

POOLS™ is rated higher. FOTONICA averages 4.3 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do FOTONICA or POOLS™ have ads?

Neither FOTONICA nor POOLS™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FOTONICA or POOLS™?

FOTONICA ships an update every 6 months, and POOLS™ every 2 months. Most recently, FOTONICA was updated on October 19, 2026 and POOLS™ on October 17, 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.*