# Monster Mingle vs DNA Play

The clearest difference is rating: DNA Play at 4.4 against Monster Mingle's 4.0. DNA Play also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 28). Monster Mingle's advantage is review sentiment (89% vs 68%) and price ($3.99 vs $4.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Monster Mingle costs $3.99 and DNA Play $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

DNA Play holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DNA Play has 2.2K ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Monster Mingle's written reviews are positive against 68% of DNA Play'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 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monster Mingle | DNA Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-mingle/id915545000/reviews) | **[4.4 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-play/id1033801524/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **2.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **89.2% of reviews** | 67.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 300 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cowly Owl Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/470860658) | [AVOKIDDO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1137946176) |

## What reviewers say

### Monster Mingle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-mingle/id915545000)

Design and build your own unique, friendly monster by combining various body parts. Explore magical islands, discover creatures, and interact with the environment in a free-play imaginative landscape. This app encourages creativity and exploration without any goals or objectives.

**Highlights:** Combine diverse body parts (eyes, mouths, limbs, wings, etc.), Explore land, sea, and sky environments, Discover and interact with creatures, Feed your monster, Free play sandbox environment

**In-app purchases:** none


### DNA Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dna-play/id1033801524)

Design and mutate unique creatures by solving DNA puzzles and altering genes. Interact with your creations in real-time through various activities, discovering their personalities and evolving their forms.

**Highlights:** Create over 200 billion unique monsters, Solve DNA puzzles to build creatures, Alter genes for real-time mutations, Interact with monsters in various activities, Discover monster personalities and quirks, Save monster creations and DNA blueprints

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and creative
- 💡 Teaches about DNA and diversity
- 🥰 Child-friendly and engaging
- 🤩 Customizable monsters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😕 Limited gameplay and interaction
- 😒 Repetitive and boring after a while
- 🤔 Difficulty controlling/interacting with monsters
- 💰 Overpriced for the content

**Reported bugs**

- Food items hard to pick up
- Glitches and crashes on some devices

**Requested features**

- More gameplay options and activities
- Ability to name and save monsters
- Additional customization options
- Improved controls and responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monster Mingle free?

Monster Mingle costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DNA Play free?

DNA Play costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Monster Mingle or DNA Play?

DNA Play is rated higher. Monster Mingle averages 4.0 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while DNA Play averages 4.4 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do Monster Mingle or DNA Play have ads?

Neither Monster Mingle nor DNA Play shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monster Mingle or DNA Play?

Monster Mingle ships an update every 6 months, and DNA Play every 6 months. Most recently, Monster Mingle was updated on September 18, 2026 and DNA Play on September 24, 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.*