# SUPERSTAR SMTOWN vs Arcaea

The clearest difference is ads: Arcaea at none against SUPERSTAR SMTOWN's shown. Arcaea also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 49%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SUPERSTAR SMTOWN sells 35 one-off in-app purchases and Arcaea sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Arcaea holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10K and 25K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of SUPERSTAR SMTOWN's written reviews are positive against 78% of Arcaea's.

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN ships an update every 2 weeks, Arcaea every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SUPERSTAR SMTOWN | Arcaea |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/superstar-smtown/id890937532/reviews) | **[4.8 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcaea/id1205999125/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10K | **25K** |
| Positive reviews | 48.8% of reviews | **78.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#29** | #54 |
| Size | 422 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dalcomsoft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/890937535) | [lowiro](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381393762) |

## What reviewers say

### SUPERSTAR SMTOWN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/superstar-smtown/id890937532)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Grossing · Music, #87 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Engage with your favorite K-POP artists' music in this rhythm game. Collect and upgrade artist cards to build powerful decks, compete in weekly leagues, and complete missions for rewards. Enjoy regular events tied to artist comebacks and concerts.

**Highlights:** Play SMTOWN artist songs, Collect and upgrade artist cards, Build custom card decks, Compete in weekly leagues, Complete daily missions, Participate in events

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (35)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 12th Anniv. Star Package | $0.99 | one-time |
| EVERYDAY PACKAGE | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mission Pass | $0.99 | one-time |
| 2023 Limited Theme Package | $2.99 | one-time |
| 33 Diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| 39 Diamond | $3.39 | one-time |
| Big Chocolate Box | $3.99 | one-time |
| Limited Theme Prem. Pack 10 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 57 Diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| 62 Diamond | $5.29 | one-time |
| On My Youth Starter Package | $6.99 | one-time |
| Be There For me Starter Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Nightmare Starter Package | $6.99 | one-time |
| 250226newh2hstarter | $6.99 | one-time |
| premium10 | $6.99 | one-time |
| rvlovearcadestarter | $6.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 2 | $6.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 5 | $6.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 38 | $6.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 8 | $6.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 9 | $6.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 46 | $6.99 | one-time |
| 12th Anniv. Super Package | $8.99 | one-time |
| 120 Diamond | $9.89 | one-time |
| 120 Diamonds | $9.99 | one-time |
| cardchristmas | $9.99 | one-time |
| megacurrency1 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Limited Theme Prem. Pack30 | $12.99 | one-time |
| 250312newasepaspecial | $19.99 | one-time |
| aespasynkspecial | $19.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 19 | $19.99 | one-time |
| SSM Package 13 | $19.99 | one-time |
| 375 Diamond | $29.49 | one-time |
| 650 Diamond | $48.49 | one-time |
| 1200 Diamond | $83.90 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay
- 💎 Generous event rewards
- 🎨 Visually appealing design
- 🎶 Wide selection of K-pop songs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🤔 Confusing card management system

**Reported bugs**

- Notes not registering properly
- Sudden account disconnections
- Inability to open mystery boxes
- Stuck at 10.2% during loading

**Requested features**

- Add more songs from older SM artists
- Implement a card trading system
- Improve event difficulty and rewards balance
- Optimize performance for older devices


### Arcaea

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcaea/id1205999125)

**Currently charting:** #54 Top Grossing · Music, #69 Top Free · Music (US App Store)

Experience a unique rhythm game that blends challenging gameplay with an immersive story. Progress through a narrative driven by your performance, unlock new difficulties, and compete with others online. Enjoy a vast library of music, with more available through content packs.

**Highlights:** Novel gameplay mechanics, Immersive sound and story, High difficulty ceiling, Over 350 songs, 3 rhythm difficulty levels per song, Real-time online multiplayer, Rich Main Story and Side Stories

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Memories | $0.99 | one-time |
| 510 Memories | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1020 Memories | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Unique gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Beautiful visuals and art
- 🎶 Excellent music selection
- 👍 Smooth and responsive controls
- 💯 Challenging yet rewarding difficulty

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall for content
- 🔁 Repetitive grind in World Mode
- 🐛 Occasional note registration issues
- 🔊 Audio desync when multitasking
- 🤖 Lack of practice mode or tutorial

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and account sync problems
- Compatibility problems on certain devices
- Crashes and freezes during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer mode to compete with friends
- Ability to earn premium currency through gameplay
- More free song options to explore the game
- Customizable note speed and offset settings
- Improved story mode and character development


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SUPERSTAR SMTOWN free?

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

### Is Arcaea free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea?

Arcaea is rated higher. SUPERSTAR SMTOWN averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Arcaea averages 4.8 from 25K ratings.

### Do SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea have ads?

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN shows ads; Arcaea does not.

### Which is updated more often, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea?

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN ships an update every 2 weeks, and Arcaea every 8 days. Most recently, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN was updated on November 1, 2026 and Arcaea on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea?

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN currently peaks at #29 in the App Store charts, and Arcaea at #54. 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.*