# Dotsu vs Glowherd

The clearest difference is ads: Dotsu at none against Glowherd's shown. Dotsu also leads on ratings volume (343 vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). Glowherd's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 69%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dotsu sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Glowherd sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Glowherd holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dotsu has 343 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Dotsu's written reviews are positive against 100% of Glowherd's.

Dotsu ships an update fortnightly, Glowherd every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dotsu | Glowherd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotsu-match-3-dots/id932799055/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glowherd/id6779811422/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **343** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 140 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gamepocket Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/496247882) | [Thomas Masters](https://appshunter.io/developer/6773804308) |

## What reviewers say

### Dotsu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotsu-match-3-dots/id932799055)

Engage in a unique match-3 puzzle adventure with colorful dots and explosive power-ups. Explore over 620 handcrafted levels featuring fresh mechanics and a sleek design. Enjoy a completely ad-free experience with captivating visuals and sound.

**Highlights:** 620+ handcrafted levels, Explosive power-ups, Unique dot mechanics, Sleek minimalist design, 100% ad-free experience, Side quests and secret shape guessing

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mini bundle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Special bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| Small bundle | $3.99 | one-time |
| No ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large bundle | $17.99 | one-time |
| XL bundle | $29.99 | one-time |
| XXL bundle | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun from the get-go
- 👍 Better than Two Dots
- 👍 Very nice game - not too money-oriented
- 👍 Love it
- 👍 Perfect!

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Still need more levels
- 🐛 Enjoyable, but. . .
- 🐛 Too Difficult
- 🐛 Color Issues
- 🐛 Game too hard too soon

**Reported bugs**

- Something went wrong where now it won't clear the colors when I match them
- Text and many logos disappear at the beginning of each level
- Couldn't beat the broom level in 3 tries and ran out of brooms so I could play the level

**Requested features**

- Add level replay
- More ways to get coins
- Add undo power-up
- Add ability to replay completed levels
- Add more levels


### Glowherd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glowherd/id6779811422)

Guide luminous orbs through dynamic, rippling space in this arcade game. Tap to launch waves, build momentum, and aim for increasingly challenging high scores. Enjoy simple, one-handed gameplay designed for both quick sessions and extended play.

**Highlights:** One-tap, one-handed gameplay, No account required, Round-based progression, Score chase mechanics, Optional ad removal purchase

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dotsu free?

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

### Is Glowherd free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dotsu or Glowherd?

Glowherd is rated higher. Dotsu averages 4.6 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Glowherd averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Dotsu or Glowherd have ads?

Glowherd shows ads; Dotsu does not.

### Which is updated more often, Dotsu or Glowherd?

Dotsu ships an update fortnightly, and Glowherd every 2 weeks. Most recently, Dotsu was updated on October 24, 2026 and Glowherd on October 14, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*