# Alpha 1 vs Sphero Play

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sphero Play at 69% against Alpha 1's 7%. Sphero Play also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (37K vs 26). Alpha 1's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sphero Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of Alpha 1's written reviews are positive against 69% of Sphero Play's.

Alpha 1 ships an update monthly, Sphero Play every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alpha 1 | Sphero Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpha-1/id975970177/reviews) | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **37K** |
| Positive reviews | 6.7% of reviews | **69.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 77 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP](https://appshunter.io/developer/975970176) | [Sphero, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/468699622) |

## What reviewers say

### Alpha 1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alpha-1/id975970177)

Control and interact with robots using Bluetooth. Download actions from the internet, design your own, and use your phone as a remote control for games like football and fighting. The app also allows for robot information retrieval and firmware upgrades.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth robot control, Downloadable actions, User-designed actions, Phone as remote control, Robot information and firmware upgrade

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sphero Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-play/id1280682522)

Control and play with various Sphero robots using a single application. Explore multiple drive modes, engage in robot-controlled games, and learn basic programming through a block-based interface.

**Highlights:** Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice), Robot-controlled games, Block Drive programming, Sports-themed drive modes, Voice control

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and engaging app
- 👍 Great controls and customization
- 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
- 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
- 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability

**Reported bugs**

- Joystick controls not working as expected
- Alignment issues causing unexpected movement

**Requested features**

- More games and activities
- Support for additional Sphero products (e.g. Ollie, BB-8)
- Improved aiming and control precision
- Camera integration to see the Sphero's view


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alpha 1 free?

Alpha 1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sphero Play free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Alpha 1 or Sphero Play?

Sphero Play is rated higher. Alpha 1 averages 3.0 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Sphero Play averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.

### Do Alpha 1 or Sphero Play have ads?

Neither Alpha 1 nor Sphero Play shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alpha 1 or Sphero Play?

Alpha 1 ships an update monthly, and Sphero Play every 2 months. Most recently, Alpha 1 was updated on October 15, 2026 and Sphero Play on October 17, 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.*