# Doodle Alchemy vs Doodle Mafia

The clearest difference is price: Doodle Alchemy at Free against Doodle Mafia's $1.99. Doodle Alchemy also leads on ratings volume (1.4K vs 66) and update cadence (every 13 months vs every 30 months). Doodle Mafia's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Doodle Alchemy is free to download; Doodle Mafia costs $1.99 up front. Doodle Alchemy sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Doodle Mafia sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Doodle Mafia holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Doodle Alchemy has 1.4K ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of Doodle Alchemy's written reviews are positive against 75% of Doodle Mafia's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Doodle Alchemy ships an update every 13 months, Doodle Mafia every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Doodle Alchemy | Doodle Mafia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-alchemy/id913167692/reviews) | **[4.8 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-mafia/id1102533665/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 66 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 13 months** | Every 30 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 168 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [BYRIL OOO](https://appshunter.io/developer/818724409) | [JoyBits Co Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/375374774) |

## What reviewers say

### Doodle Alchemy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-alchemy/id913167692)

Combine basic elements like air, water, earth, and fire to discover and create new ones. This game offers an intuitive experience with stunning graphics, unique music, and sound effects for an immersive journey of discovery.

**Highlights:** Intuitive one-click gameplay, Stunning graphics and effects, Unique music and sound design, Element combination and discovery, Language learning through play, Vast number of discoverable elements

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Special offer. Remove ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| +10 hints. | $0.99 | one-time |
| Special offer. 20 hints | $0.99 | one-time |
| +25 hints. | $1.99 | one-time |
| +150 hints. | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging game
- 🧠 Educational and thought-provoking
- 🎨 Appealing graphics and animations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads interrupting gameplay
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty progressing without hints

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when reaching a certain number of elements
- Inconsistent behavior when trying new element combinations

**Requested features**

- More variety in element combinations
- Ability to save and resume progress
- Option to disable ads for a fee


### Doodle Mafia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-mafia/id1102533665)

Engage in a crime-themed puzzle and creation game where you can play as a gangster or a cop. Solve over 500 puzzles, build your empire, and navigate multiple storylines in a dynamic crime city.

**Highlights:** Over 500 puzzles and items to create, Play as Gangster or Cop, Dynamic Crime City simulation, Multiple game modes and storylines, Crime Slots mini-game for rewards, Available in 6 languages

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bundle of 200 buxes | $0.99 | one-time |
| Starter Kit | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 450 buxes | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 1000 buxes | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 3000 buxes | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 10000 buxes | $24.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 30000 buxes | $49.99 | one-time |
| Infinite buxes | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Doodle Alchemy free?

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

### Is Doodle Mafia free?

Doodle Mafia costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Doodle Alchemy or Doodle Mafia?

Doodle Mafia is rated higher. Doodle Alchemy averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Doodle Mafia averages 4.8 from 66 ratings.

### Do Doodle Alchemy or Doodle Mafia have ads?

Doodle Alchemy shows ads; Doodle Mafia does not.

### Which is updated more often, Doodle Alchemy or Doodle Mafia?

Doodle Alchemy ships an update every 13 months, and Doodle Mafia every 30 months. Most recently, Doodle Alchemy was updated on October 26, 2026 and Doodle Mafia on October 27, 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.*