# 99 Problems vs Stairs

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stairs at none against 99 Problems's 1. Stairs also leads on ratings volume (24K vs 38) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). 99 Problems's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (6.1 vs 13.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 99 Problems sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Stairs asks for nothing beyond the download.

Stairs holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stairs has 24K ratings behind it against 38, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of 99 Problems's written reviews are positive against 68% of Stairs's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 99 Problems | Stairs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/99-problems/id911710597/reviews) | **[4.6 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stairs/id1320535586/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 38 | **24K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.2% of reviews** | 67.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 24 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mamau ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1079859475) | [Ketchapp](https://appshunter.io/developer/528065807) |

## What reviewers say

### 99 Problems

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/99-problems/id911710597)

Navigate a minimalist world through 99 challenging levels. Evade obstacles and wall-jump your way to victory in this addictive hardcore game. Experience a seamless stream of challenges designed for maximum fun.

**Highlights:** 99 challenging levels, Minimalist design, Obstacle evasion, Wall-jumping mechanics, Hardcore fun

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Stairs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stairs/id1320535586)

Embark on a challenging endless journey, testing your bravery as you climb. Dodge deadly spikes, collect valuable rubies, and aim for insane perfect combos to achieve a high score.

**Highlights:** Endless climbing journey, Dodge spikes, Collect rubies, Perform perfect combos, High score challenges

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive game
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Creative and challenging
- 👍 Great for stress relief and boredom
- 👍 Enjoyable for all ages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and freezing issues
- 💸 Too many ads that interfere with gameplay
- 🔋 Lags on older devices
- 🔒 Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Ads popping up during gameplay
- Screen freezing and crashing
- Inconsistent ball movement and controls

**Requested features**

- More challenging levels and modes
- Ability to remove ads
- Improved controls and responsiveness
- Additional ball/character customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 99 Problems free?

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

### Is Stairs free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 99 Problems or Stairs?

Stairs is rated higher. 99 Problems averages 4.3 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Stairs averages 4.6 from 24K ratings.

### Do 99 Problems or Stairs have ads?

Stairs shows ads; 99 Problems does not.

### Which is updated more often, 99 Problems or Stairs?

99 Problems ships an update every 3 months, and Stairs every 3 months. Most recently, 99 Problems was updated on September 7, 2026 and Stairs on September 26, 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.*