Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Temple Run vs Helix Jump

Temple Run 4.4★ · Free + IAP 55
Winner Helix Jump
Helix Jump 4.6★ · Free + IAP 65

For a more reliable and less ad-intrusive experience, Helix Jump is the better choice, despite its own issues with ads and perceived lack of challenge.

Full reviews: Temple Run · Helix Jump

Temple Run, a classic endless runner, is largely criticized for its overwhelming ad frequency and misleading 'no ads' purchase option, making it frustrating to play. Helix Jump, while also having many ads, is generally seen as more relaxing and addictive, though some users find it too easy or buggy.

Head to head

Ad Experience edge: Helix JumpR7R13R24R37
Temple Run Temple Run is heavily criticized for an excessive number of unskippable ads that appear after every run, often forcing users to close and reopen the app R7R24R37. Many users report that paying to remove ads is misleading, as they still encounter pop-ups for extra lives or forced ads even after purchase R7R13R58.
Helix Jump Helix Jump also suffers from a high volume of ads, with many users reporting ads after almost every level, which can be as short as 30 seconds . Some users also note that ads for Helix Jump itself misleadingly claim 'NO ADS!' .
Gameplay and Fun edge: Helix JumpR3R14R17R19
Temple Run Temple Run is cherished for its nostalgic value and simple, fun, and addictive endless runner gameplay R14R17. However, some users find it gets boring after a while R3 and report glitches like gaps not allowing jumps or notification bars interfering with gameplay on iPhones R19.
Helix Jump Helix Jump is described as fun, addictive, relaxing, and good for passing time . However, some users find the challenge levels too easy and the opponents to be bots, leading to boredom quickly .
Performance and Reliability tieR28R34R40R72
Temple Run Temple Run users report issues with long loading times on some devices, broken animations, and stuttering, even on newer iPhones R34R40. There are also reports of the App Store randomly opening during gameplay, ending a run R28.
Helix Jump Helix Jump is noted by some users to be laggy and slower than older versions R72. There are also reports of glitches causing the game to stop working or progress to reset .
Offline Play and Background Audio edge: Temple RunR47R64R81R94
Temple Run One user suggests turning off Wi-Fi to avoid ads in Temple Run R47, implying it can be played offline, though this is not explicitly confirmed by many reviews.
Helix Jump Helix Jump users complain that the game cannot be played without Wi-Fi and that it constantly pauses background music or videos from other apps like Spotify or YouTube R64R81R94.
Value (Free vs. Paid) tieR7R13R31R58
Temple Run Temple Run is free with in-app purchases, but users who pay to remove ads feel scammed because ads persist, especially for extra lives, or they encounter unskippable ads R7R13R31R58.
Helix Jump Helix Jump is also free with in-app purchases, and while it has many ads, there's an option to pay to remove them . However, some users find the game too easy or repetitive even without ads .
Pick Temple Run if

you are seeking a classic endless runner for nostalgia and are willing to tolerate significant ad interruptions or manually disable Wi-Fi to play R14R47.

Pick Helix Jump if

you prefer a relaxing and addictive game that is good for passing time, even if it has frequent ads and can sometimes feel too easy .

Evidence note: Both apps are free with in-app purchases, and a significant portion of negative reviews for both are related to the ad experience, which is common for free mobile games. Helix Jump has a higher lifetime rating and more ratings overall.

Frequently asked

Can I play Temple Run without ads?
While Temple Run offers an in-app purchase to remove ads, many users report that this is misleading, as they still encounter pop-ups asking to watch ads for extra lives or unskippable ads after a run R7R13R58. Some users suggest turning off Wi-Fi to avoid ads R47.
Does Helix Jump allow background music?
No, Helix Jump users frequently complain that the game pauses background music or videos from other apps like Spotify or YouTube, even when the in-game sound is off R81R94R112R118.
Is Temple Run still fun to play?
Many users find Temple Run to be a fun and nostalgic classic R14R17, but recent reviews indicate that the enjoyment is severely hampered by an excessive number of ads and performance issues R7R24R37R40.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R7] Temple Run 1/5 · US A classic ruined by greed: The ad placement of this game is abysmal. Even if you pay to have them removed, you still get popups (that you cannot disable anywhere in settings) asking you to watch an ad for another life. Paired with how awful mobile ads have become nowadays, a single misclick on these popups (an easy mistake to make because of their lazy and poor design) now requires fully quitting
  2. [R13] Temple Run 1/5 · US Misleading: Paid to remove ads. Still have to view ads to recover from bad moves. Completely misleading and I’m asking for a refund.
  3. [R24] Temple Run 3/5 · US Temple run is cool I guess…: It’s a good way to pass time and it’s fun but I hate the ads that pop up whenever you die. The ads are like a minute long and they happen every run so it takes away my precious time. The game is 5 stars but this makes it 3 stars
  4. [R37] Temple Run 1/5 · US Ruined By Ads: I’ve loved this game for many years, but the new update is absolutely ridiculous and a waste of all time and enjoyment. It has become unplayable due to the unskippable ads. The game “gives you the option” to skip ads but it always plays them at the end of each round and they are continuous. The only way to end it or start a new game is to clear out the app and reopen it. Like I sai
  5. [R3] Temple Run 3/5 · US Idk: When I was a kid I downloaded it it was fun but then deleted it😅 the reason is it’s kinda boring 😭 but like idm!
  6. [R14] Temple Run 5/5 · US GOATED: Just can’t beat the classic
  7. [R17] Temple Run 5/5 · US Nicer: This game is really fun and I enjoy it!
  8. [R19] Temple Run 1/5 · US I hat this game: When I started running there were gaps on the ground. And they wouldn’t let me go left or right inless I was turning!😡😡😡😡
  9. [R28] Temple Run 2/5 · US App Store Randomly Opens: Not sure if this is something that you all can control, but the App Store has shown up out of nowhere despite me not tapping on anything and ended a run for me at least three times. It’s pretty frustrating and then I have to watch an ad regardless of pressing “No”. Nice nostalgic game, but the invasive opening of the App Store randomly is really annoying. Hopefully you
  10. [R34] Temple Run 2/5 · US Fix this please: When I downloaded TempleRun on my old iPad Air it always loads longer on my dad’s iPhone 14 pro max it loads faster Please removed this loading screen please
  11. [R40] Temple Run 1/5 · US Y'all ruined it: I think it's best to play this unupdated on an old iPod Touch than whatever this updated version is. Ads, broken animations, STUTTERING???? An iPod Touch 4th gen runs this better than an iPhone 13? Be real
  12. [R72] Helix Jump 3/5 · US My opinion: Old helix jump was honestly way better, this seems more so laggy, slower, and just not cool than the older version. When years pass by aren’t things supposed to be newer and cooler? This was the opposite.
  13. [R47] Temple Run 5/5 · US Man people are complaining for not knowing how to play the game. It’s a good game.: To prove my point, go to the most critical section and people will say you can’t go right or left, like people tilt your device right and left to move. This game is a classic and nostalgic as it brings back good memories. Sure it might have too many ads but just close the app and reopen it or turn off your Wi-Fi fo
  14. [R64] Helix Jump 1/5 · US Power hungry: Cant play without wi-fi nor without an ad every five seconds
  15. [R81] Helix Jump 3/5 · US can't play music while you play the game: can someone figure out how to play music while you play the game
  16. [R94] Helix Jump 1/5 · US Pauses music constantly: I enjoy listening to music on Spotify while playing games and this game looked fun but it isn’t even worth playing because of that and allllll the constant ads.
  17. [R31] Temple Run 1/5 · US Add: The adds cost a lot of money for the adds🤬👿😡😾👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
  18. [R58] Temple Run 1/5 · US NO ADS SCAM: bruh I bought the “🚫 ads” logo and then it proceed to take my money and give me a ⏳ 4d 13 hr 9m timer ?!?!?! holy money grab, why not a one time payment?? your greed will be heard of from above
  19. [R112] Helix Jump 1/5 · US Videos: Can’t listen to a YouTube video in the background while you play the game. I’d play it a lot more if you could.
  20. [R118] Helix Jump 2/5 · US No sound?: Why can’t I listen to music or watch videos while playing this? I’ve got the sound off on the actual game but it stops my music when I launch it and if I try to have a show or something on it pauses it constantly? Why?

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store