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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Hay Day vs Candy Crush Saga

Hay Day 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Hay Day
Candy Crush Saga 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60

Hay Day is better for players seeking a more relaxed, ad-free farming simulation, while Candy Crush Saga appeals to those who enjoy a fast-paced puzzle game, despite its aggressive monetization and ad presence.

Full reviews: Hay Day · Candy Crush Saga

Hay Day offers a deep and engaging farming simulation with minimal ads, though recent updates and technical issues have caused frustration R1R2R10. Candy Crush Saga provides addictive puzzle gameplay but is heavily criticized for excessive ads, pop-ups, and a 'pay-to-win' structure in later levels R64.

Head to head

Features edge: Hay DayR8R20R38R47
Hay Day Hay Day offers a wide range of activities beyond just farming, including design challenges, and users appreciate the depth of gameplay R8R20R38. However, some players are frustrated by the lack of certain features like an 'undo' button for accidental actions or the ability to sell unwanted decorations . There are also requests for more animals and specific machines R47.
Candy Crush Saga Candy Crush Saga provides a classic match-3 puzzle experience with many levels and satisfying gameplay R65. However, recent updates have removed bonus plays and made levels significantly harder, leading to a perception that the game forces purchases . Many users also dislike the overwhelming number of side games and collection junk .
Ease of Use edge: Hay DayR1R4R6R11
Hay Day Hay Day is generally considered easy to play and suitable for all ages R11R23. However, recent updates have introduced new animations and UI changes that some users find overwhelming and even motion-sickness inducing R1R6. There are also complaints about the marketplace being filled with unwanted items like ore, making it hard to find needed goods R4.
Candy Crush Saga Candy Crush Saga is easy to pick up and play R65. However, the game is heavily criticized for its constant pop-ups, promotional offers, and layers of add-ons that make accessing the next level a burden and take too long R65. Some users also report issues with landscape mode on iPad Pro .
Reliability tieR2R9R13R15
Hay Day Hay Day users frequently report issues with the game freezing, getting stuck on the loading screen, or crashing, especially after updates R2R9R13R15. There are also complaints about connectivity issues and lost game progress after switching phones .
Candy Crush Saga Candy Crush Saga also suffers from reliability issues, with users reporting the game crashing frequently, especially when winning or after prolonged play . Ads are a major source of instability, often freezing the iPad or causing the app to hang, leading to lost rewards .
Price/Value edge: Hay DayR10R11R23R30
Hay Day Hay Day is free to play and is praised for having no ads R11R23. However, some users feel the game has become a 'cashgrab' R10 and that items like machines and animals are too expensive R42. There are also complaints about diamonds disappearing R31 and not receiving purchased items R30. Some users find the in-game purchases overpriced R39.
Candy Crush Saga Candy Crush Saga is free to play but is heavily criticized for its aggressive push for microtransactions and paywalls R64. Many users feel the game is designed to force purchases, especially in later levels where it becomes impossible to win without power-ups or extra turns R64. The game is also plagued by an overwhelming number of ads R66.
Support tieR7R25R31R33
Hay Day Hay Day users report mixed experiences with support. Some were told nothing could be done about disappearing diamonds R31, while others experienced issues with buying diamonds being blamed on Apple R33. There are also complaints about a 14-day waiting period for account deletion without a logout option R7 and issues with account recovery after theft R25.
Candy Crush Saga Candy Crush Saga users frequently complain about not receiving rewards from events or ads . There are also reports of lives disappearing without explanation and ads freezing, causing players to lose boosts or rewards . The game's support for these issues is not mentioned positively in reviews.
Pick Hay Day if

you enjoy a relaxing, ad-free farming simulation with deep gameplay and social elements, and are willing to overlook occasional technical glitches and some recent UI changes R11R20R23.

Pick Candy Crush Saga if

you are a fan of classic match-3 puzzle games and find the core gameplay loop addictive, and you are prepared to tolerate frequent ads, pop-ups, and potential pressure to make in-app purchases in later levels R65.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of recent negative reviews related to technical issues and monetization, despite their high lifetime ratings. Candy Crush Saga's negative reviews are particularly focused on the intrusive ads and perceived 'pay-to-win' mechanics, which are more prevalent than in Hay Day.

Frequently asked

Which game has more ads?
Candy Crush Saga has significantly more ads and pop-ups, with users frequently complaining about constant interruptions, long ad durations, and ads freezing the app R65R66. Hay Day, in contrast, is praised by users for having almost no ads R11R23.
Which game is more pay-to-win?
Candy Crush Saga is more perceived as 'pay-to-win,' especially in later levels where users report it becoming impossible to win without purchasing power-ups or extra turns R64. While Hay Day has in-app purchases and some users feel it's a 'cashgrab' or that items are overpriced, the core gameplay is not described as being impossible without spending money R10R39R42.
Are there common technical issues?
Yes, both games have common technical issues. Hay Day users frequently report the game freezing, getting stuck on loading screens, crashing, and experiencing connectivity problems R2R9R13R15. Candy Crush Saga also has issues with crashing, particularly when winning or after extended play, and ads frequently freeze the app .

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. [R8] Hay Day 5/5 · US PLEASE ADD!: Pretty please add an option to move entire designs from farm around!!! Also if we could add previous designs we have made directly onto my farm from the design book that would be great 😍 ps: this is my favorite game ever!!! 🫶🏽
  2. [R20] Hay Day 5/5 · US My #1 go to game!: I’ve had this game for years and have been obsessed since day 1. It’s fun and there is always something to do. I cannot say enough great things about it!!
  3. [R38] Hay Day 5/5 · US More than just farming: I’ve been playing for a very long time and the game just keeps getting better. The design challenges are fun and really brings out your creative side. One thing that really needs to be addressed is that the only thing people sell in the marketplace are metal ores. The gift shop in town needs to require more jewelry and perhaps you could make boat orders include jewelry. Som
  4. [R47] Hay Day 5/5 · US best farm game: please add a MILK PROCESSING MACHINE please
  5. [R1] Hay Day 1/5 · US Overwhelming Update: I have been playing this game since 2013 but the recent update might be the end of my journey. I get very motion sick and the new animations may kill my heyday enjoyment. With each event having its own icon and taking you to a new page when you click it, its feels like i’m constantly being dragged across the farm. The neighborhood nurture event that rushes across the screen is
  6. [R4] Hay Day 2/5 · US Unplayable after you unlock the mine people fill the news paper with pre and that’s all you ever see: Not cool and not fun booo. Do something about the ore in the news paper
  7. [R6] Hay Day 3/5 · US Updates: I wish I would stop with the unnecessary updates. I’ve had the game 10+ years and I do like it, but I don’t know why the design for things have to change so much. Like why change the design for the orders board and why change how the boat works. Lecture add more buildings for us to buy, but I don’t know why the design has changed. I also wish the bushes that are supposed to attract butter
  8. [R11] Hay Day 5/5 · US Andi’s farm: LOVE the game❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I have been playing with my cousins brother and friends since like 2019 and I love it. The best thing NO ADS!!!!! I just wish it was easier to get diamonds, other wise I think you should get it. And it’s great for all ages and easy to play!!!!
  9. [R2] Hay Day 5/5 · US Freeze Loading the game: Hi The game not playing on my phone (iPhone 8) and my daughter’s phone (iPhone 16). Loading the game stop in half of its run
  10. [R9] Hay Day 3/5 · US My game won’t open: I’ve been trying since yesterday to open my game but it continues to say loading
  11. [R13] Hay Day 1/5 · US Why: My game is stuck at the loading screen….💔💔
  12. [R15] Hay Day 3/5 · US App crashes: It crashes since yesterday, tries to restart my iPhone no luck
  13. [R10] Hay Day 1/5 · US I really hate that I ever invested in this game: Used to be more, this is just what it is now. Soon I will give up and move along. Just a cashgrab now
  14. [R23] Hay Day 5/5 · US I LOVE THIS!!!!: So I got this game ( cuz my parents recommended me it ) and I’m addicted to hayday!!! Also if you are reading and do not have hayday, totally get!! There’s not really adds. You only get adds when you have a treasure chest and free gift and you want more gifts ( the free gift is free so no adds for that ) overall no glitch or code rot!!! ( code rot is where there’s a really old gam
  15. [R30] Hay Day 3/5 · US Use to love this game: I buy things in the game and don’t receive them. I wait hours even days for an item to open and it doesn’t I’m hella annoyed
  16. [R7] Hay Day 1/5 · US We need an exit button when waiting 14 days for account deletion.: I want to log out of my account to log in with another account, but the game keeps making me wait 14 days before continuing. There's no logout button to help me log in with a different account
  17. [R25] Hay Day 1/5 · US Supercell I need help Apple Store I need help: How they said is safe and they didn’t return the games for the owner is very shame. Someone steal my account he changed my supercell ID and he changed. My SMS the good things my Apple ID is there a shame he she wants to steal my account for Apple ID she sent for me a virus from the Facebook the good things I have iPhone the Apple ID they return it for
  18. [R31] Hay Day 1/5 · US Diamonds disappearing: Disappointed beyond belief. Had 580 ish diamonds yesterday and found I only had 94 today. After contacting support they told me I spent 492 of them on marker stakes. I only have 12 stakes and haven’t opened any new plots of land and said this to the customer support, which consequently told me they could do nothing. 500 diamonds do not disappear like that.
  19. [R33] Hay Day 3/5 · GB Been playing for years but…: Recently I’ve been having issues with buying diamonds and Hay Day is saying it’s an Apple issue despite being able to buy boosts on other apps no problem. I’ve asked for help and keep getting the run around and it’s ruining my enjoyment of the game. I’ve done all the updates and check all my settings so I don’t understand the problem!
  20. [R65] Candy Crush Saga 5/5 · US So you mf will stop asking me: Candy Crush is still a fun and addictive puzzle game with plenty of levels and satisfying gameplay. It’s easy to pick up and play for a few minutes or get lost in for much longer. The biggest downside is the constant pop-up ads and promotional offers. It feels like every time you finish a level, open the game, or return to the main screen, you’re hit with another of
  21. [R66] Candy Crush Saga 3/5 · US Too many ads: Said it all in the title
  22. [R39] Hay Day 3/5 · GB Great game but……: Overpriced and not value for money. They obviously target stupid rich people. A fool and his money…….
  23. [R42] Hay Day 3/5 · GB Search option in the daily dirt: It’s a good game but there are some factors that can be fixed One -Machines, and animals are way too expensive. I have to save up through three levels in order to afford one machine and why is a pig or goat over 2000 gold coins. Two - why does the amount increase when you buy multiple items,it’s already expensive enough Three - it takes too long for something to be
  24. [R64] Candy Crush Saga 1/5 · US Scam: Game is a literal scam. When you get into the later levels (200s) they literally make it impossible to win by giving you a very small amount of turns and you can’t beat the level without using power ups and the sort. With that comes YOU spending money to either have enough gold for more turns or just buying a power up pack. Absolute scam.

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