Ultrapool on iOS & Android: Free vs Steam
The three builds side by side
| Build | Price | Requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam (Windows / macOS / Linux) | $11.99 USD, discounted at launch | 256 MB install; the store's own note says it "should run on anything from this decade" | Steam Cloud saves, Family Sharing, achievements. A free demo also exists. |
| iOS — "Ultrapool: Pool Roguelite" | Free, with in-app purchases | iOS 17.0 or later, 377 MB download | Listed under Games / Card / Casino on the App Store. |
| Android — com.icedropgames.pool | Free, with in-app purchases | Listed on Google Play by Icedrop Games | Rated 4.8 on Google Play from a far larger review pool than the iOS listing. |
What actually differs in play
The content is the same game — the same balls, snacks and difficulty ladder. Three practical differences are worth knowing before you pick a platform:
- Aiming precision. Ultrapool is a physics game where a degree of cue angle decides whether a trickshot lands. A mouse is simply more precise than a thumb, and that gap widens on the difficulties that take a shot away from you.
- Monetisation model. Paying once on Steam versus free-with-purchases on mobile is the real decision. The free mobile build is also the cheapest way to find out whether the loop grabs you before spending anything.
- No cross-save. Progress does not carry between the mobile and Steam builds. Cross-save is one of the requests players have raised in the game's Steam discussions; it has not been announced.
Small screens and the off-screen bug
Two of the first post-launch patches dealt with display problems: V0.14.14 fixed the game launching off-screen on Steam Deck and small displays (press F to toggle full screen if you are stuck), and the iOS update notes list improved font sizes for small screens. If text is unreadable on an older phone, make sure you are on the current build before troubleshooting anything else. Full specs are on the system requirements page.
Is the free version the whole game?
The mobile listings carry the same description as the paid Steam build, including the cocktail bar and the full set list, and are marked as containing in-app purchases rather than being a trial. What the purchases unlock is not documented by the developers, so this site does not claim to know — if you want a guaranteed-complete, one-payment version with cloud saves and achievements, that is the Steam build.