# aa vs Stack Islands

The clearest difference is rating: aa at 3.9 against Stack Islands's 2.5. aa also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (11K vs 2). Stack Islands's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (80% vs 56%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. aa sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Stack Islands sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

aa holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: aa has 11K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of aa's written reviews are positive against 80% of Stack Islands's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

aa ships an update every 10 days, Stack Islands every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | aa | Stack Islands |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aa/id905852173/reviews)** | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stack-islands/id1407146596/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 56.1% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#174** | — |
| Size | 231 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [General Adaptive Apps Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/937589555) | [Dean Longmore](https://appshunter.io/developer/984963696) |

## What reviewers say

### aa

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aa/id905852173)

**Currently charting:** #174 Top Free · Strategy (US App Store)

A minimalist, one-tap puzzle game that tests your timing and focus. Shoot dots into a spinning circle without collision across over 1,300 handcrafted levels. It's easy to learn but incredibly challenging to master.

**Highlights:** Over 1,300 handcrafted levels, One-tap gameplay, Offline play, Challenge friends, Daily streaks, Minimalist design

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| aa Legend | $2.99 | per month |
| aa Legend | $19.99 | per year |
| Skip Level | $0.49 | one-time |
| Skip 3 Levels | $1.19 | one-time |
| Skip 5 Levels | $1.79 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Levels | $9.99 | one-time |
| Complete aa | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Simple and challenging
- 🎨 Customizable colors
- 💯 Satisfying when passing levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Inconsistent difficulty levels
- 📺 Too many ads
- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔍 Unbalanced gameplay on different devices

**Reported bugs**

- Unresponsive controls
- Incorrect ball size on newer devices
- Persistent issues with level 7 and 8
- Glitchy end-of-level screens

**Requested features**

- Skip level option
- Hint system
- Daily challenges
- Music/sound options


### Stack Islands

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stack-islands/id1407146596)

Build towering structures by stacking blocks to create unique islands. Enjoy a relaxing experience with charming visuals and challenge yourself with fun activities. Discover a hidden mystery while competing for the top global score.

**Highlights:** Stack blocks to create islands, Relaxing and charming design, Compete for global high scores, Engage in fun activities, Discover a hidden mystery, No personal data tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Complete Game Unlock | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is aa free?

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

### Is Stack Islands free?

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

### Which has better reviews, aa or Stack Islands?

aa is rated higher. aa averages 3.9 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Stack Islands averages 2.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do aa or Stack Islands have ads?

aa shows ads; Stack Islands does not.

### Which is updated more often, aa or Stack Islands?

aa ships an update every 10 days, and Stack Islands every 2 months. Most recently, aa was updated on November 8, 2026 and Stack Islands on November 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.*