# Seashine vs Upstream Struggle

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Upstream Struggle at none against Seashine's 6. Upstream Struggle also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). Seashine's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Seashine sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Upstream Struggle asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Seashine against 4.9 for Upstream Struggle. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.7K and 9.7K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Seashine's written reviews are positive against 87% of Upstream Struggle's.

Seashine ships an update monthly, Upstream Struggle every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Seashine | Upstream Struggle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (4.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seashine/id897544254/reviews) | **[4.9 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4.7K | **9.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **93.5% of reviews** | 86.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 217 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Patrick Ellis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045860257) | [Jack LaLonde](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499291451) |

## What reviewers say

### Seashine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seashine/id897544254)

Explore a mysterious, dangerous underworld as a fragile jellyfish. Absorb light to survive longer and evade bizarre creatures lurking in the darkness. Experience an endless, unique survival quest with intuitive touch controls and a dynamic soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Endless underworld exploration, Unique, unlimited gameplay, Intuitive touch controls, Dynamic reactive soundtrack, Survival against bizarre creatures

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 40 Stars | $0.49 | one-time |
| 100 Stars | $0.99 | one-time |
| 200 Stars | $1.89 | one-time |
| 400 Stars | $2.99 | one-time |
| Star Doubler | $3.99 | one-time |
| 800 Stars | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Beautiful graphics and atmosphere
- 🎶 Calming and immersive soundtrack
- 🕹️ Unique and challenging gameplay
- 🔍 Interesting creature discoveries
- 📚 Detailed creature encyclopedia

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕹️ Difficult controls
- ⏱️ Light meter drains too quickly
- 🐲 Aggressive enemy encounters
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay after discovery
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or freezes
- Disappearing collectibles or progress loss
- Inconsistent enemy spawn patterns

**Requested features**

- Peaceful exploration mode without enemies
- More diverse environments and creatures
- Ability to play as other sea creatures
- Multiplayer or co-op gameplay
- Improved tutorial and onboarding


### Upstream Struggle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059)

Embark on an endless salmon run, swimming upstream to reach home. Dodge a variety of enemies for as long as possible to unlock new fish species and improve your score.

**Highlights:** Endless salmon run gameplay, Dodge enemies, Unlock new fish, High score challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and fun concept
- 🚀 No forced ads
- 💡 Potential for improvements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay
- 🎨 Basic graphics and animations

**Reported bugs**

- Getting stuck in the waterfall at the start
- Crashes and freezes, especially at higher levels
- Issues with the bird/flying obstacle

**Requested features**

- Add more variety to levels and obstacles
- Improve controls and jumping mechanics
- Implement a leaderboard or competitive mode
- Introduce new fish skins and customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Seashine free?

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

### Is Upstream Struggle free?

Upstream Struggle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Seashine or Upstream Struggle?

Upstream Struggle is rated higher. Seashine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.7K ratings, while Upstream Struggle averages 4.9 from 9.7K ratings.

### Do Seashine or Upstream Struggle have ads?

Upstream Struggle shows ads; Seashine does not.

### Which is updated more often, Seashine or Upstream Struggle?

Seashine ships an update monthly, and Upstream Struggle every 4 days. Most recently, Seashine was updated on October 20, 2026 and Upstream Struggle on October 20, 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.*