For most players, premium (pay once) games give the better experience and free-to-play games are the better way to try things. A premium game costs a few dollars up front and then leaves you alone, with no ads, no pop-up offers and no energy timers. A free game costs nothing to start and pays for itself with ads, in-app purchases or both. Some free games are fair, and some are built to make you spend far more than a premium game would ever cost.
The five ways mobile games charge you #
| Model | What you pay | What it’s like to play | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | Once, upfront | Uninterrupted; you own the whole game | Stardew Valley ($4.99), Geometry Dash ($3.99), Threes! ($5.99) |
| Free to start | Nothing, then one purchase for the rest | Try before you buy | Monument Valley 3, Cat Quest III |
| Free with ads | Nothing; you watch ads | Breaks between rounds | Flappy Kittens, Crossy Road |
| Free with in-app purchases | As much or as little as you choose | Offers, currencies, sometimes timers or pay-to-win | UNO!, many role-playing and strategy games |
| Subscription | Monthly or yearly | A catalog with no ads or in-app purchases | Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass |
Prices are US App Store prices at the time of writing and change often.
What “free” really costs #
Free games still cost you something, just not always money.
- Ad-supported games cost attention. You trade a few seconds between rounds for a free game. For short arcade games that’s often a fair deal.
- In-app purchase games cost whatever they can persuade you to spend. A single mid-size gem bundle often costs more than Geometry Dash or Threes! do outright. Games with lives, energy and limited-time offers are designed to make those purchases feel necessary.
- Most free-to-play players never pay. These games often rely on a small group of big spenders, so the design keeps nudging everyone toward the shop.
We explain where that money goes, from ad networks to store commissions, in how free mobile games make money. Our guide on how to spot pay-to-win games shows how to tell a fair free game from a pushy one before you install it.
When premium is worth it #
- You’ll play it for more than a couple of hours. Per hour of fun, a good premium game is almost always cheaper than a free game you end up spending in.
- You dislike ads. Premium games almost never have them.
- It’s for a child. No purchase pop-ups and no pressure.
- It’s a story or puzzle game you’ll finish. Monument Valley, Cat Quest and Stardew Valley are built to be complete experiences.
When free-to-play makes sense #
- You’re trying a new genre. Free lets you find out whether you like it at no cost.
- It’s a short-session arcade game. Quick runs and ads between them fit together well.
- The game depends on lots of players. Multiplayer games like Among Us need a big player base, and being free helps.
- Your budget is zero. Plenty of free games are fair to non-payers, and you just need to choose carefully.
Is a game the same price on iPhone and Android? #
Not always. A game can be paid on one store and free with ads on the other, and the price of the same game often differs between the App Store and Google Play. If you have access to both, check both, and check the In-App Purchases list, not just the headline price.
Are subscriptions a good deal? #
- Apple Arcade: $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year in the US, shared with your family through Family Sharing.
- Google Play Pass: the family manager can share it with up to five family members. The price varies by country, so check the Play Store.
Games in both catalogs come without ads or in-app purchases. A subscription is a good deal if you play several different games a month, and a poor one if you mostly play one game you could buy outright.
Can you get a refund on a mobile game? #
Sometimes. Apple lets you request refunds through its Report a Problem page, and Google Play lets you request one through your order history. Each has its own rules and time windows, so ask soon after buying if a game disappoints you. Our guide to getting a game refund walks through both stores.
Where Flappy Kittens fits #
Flappy Kittens is free and supported by ads, and the in-game shop takes fish you collect while flying, not money. The three rarest cats can only be earned by skill. The ads are kept to natural breaks: a banner in its own strip below the play area, and full-screen ads at least four game overs and three minutes apart. The current version doesn’t sell ad removal. If you want zero ads ever, a premium game is the better choice. Flappy Kittens also works fully offline, so you can play without ads in airplane mode. For more on cutting ads, see how to stop ads in mobile games.
Frequently asked questions #
Are free games really free? #
You can play most free games without paying anything, but they’re designed to earn money somehow, through ads, purchases or both. Some are generous to non-payers, and others make progress painfully slow unless you pay.
Are premium games better quality? #
Not automatically, but premium games are designed around fun instead of spending, so they tend to feel more respectful of your time. Many of the most acclaimed mobile games, like Monument Valley, Stardew Valley and Balatro, are premium or pay-once.
Is Apple Arcade better than buying games? #
It’s better if you like variety and play several games a month. It’s worse if you only want one or two specific games, since buying those outright may cost less than a year of subscription.
Are gacha games free-to-play? #
Yes, but they’re the most expensive kind of free if you let them be, because their best rewards come from random paid pulls. See gacha games explained before you spend.