24 Games With No Ads for Android & iPhone (Checked October 2026)
The best games with no ads in 2026 are pay-once games: Stardew Valley ($4.99), Balatro ($9.99), Slay the Spire ($6.99) and Terraria ($4.99). None shows Google's "Contains ads" label, and none sells in-app items.
Want free? Try Mindustry, Unciv or PBS KIDS Games. Want a whole library? Apple Arcade is $6.99 a month on iPhone, Google Play Pass is $4.99 a month on Android, and Netflix games come with a Netflix plan. We checked every game below on 4 October 2026.
"No ads" is not one thing. A game can have no ads label, remove ads for a fee, cost money up front, or sit inside a subscription. We checked 24 games and all three subscriptions on both stores. Many popular "no ads" picks did not pass.
In a hurry? Jump to: what "no ads" means · quick picks · pay once · pay once, optional extras · free · kids · Apple Arcade, Play Pass, Netflix · label vs listing · Android vs iPhone · comparison table · removed picks · check a game yourself · how we checked · bottom line
What does "no ads" really mean?
Only one meaning is safe: the game has no ads label and sells nothing inside the app. Store pages use "no ads" for four different things.
| Kind of "no ads" | What it means | Example here | How to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| No ads label, nothing to buy | The developer says there are no ads, and the game has no shop | Stardew Valley | Google Play: no "Contains ads" under the title and no "In-app purchases" line. App Store: no "In-App Purchases" row |
| Paid up front, with extras | You pay once, but optional items still exist | Dead Cells (items from $0.49 on Play) | Play shows a price range per item. The App Store lists each item |
| Ads removed by a purchase | Free with ads; one item turns them off | Banana Kong on iPhone: "Remove Ads," $2.49 | App Store: read the In-App Purchases list. Play: look inside the game |
| Inside a subscription | The service removes ads and extras for members | Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass, Netflix | Arcade badge, Play Pass flag, or "Netflix" in the app name |
The Play "Contains ads" label comes from the developer. Google's help page says developers must declare ads, and that promoting your own other apps counts as ads. So a label can appear even when an app has no third-party ads. The App Store has no ads label at all.
Never trust one signal. Read the label, the in-app purchase line and the first lines of the description together. The label vs listing section shows three games where they do not match. Our endless runner guide shows how common the ads label is in one genre.
Quick picks: the best game with no ads for you
Find your situation in the first column. Each pick links to its full entry.
| You want | Play this | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| One safe buy | Stardew Valley ($4.99) | No Offline tag on Play |
| A card game | Balatro ($9.99) | The most expensive pick here |
| Cheap on Android | Mini Metro ($0.99 on Play) | $3.99 on iPhone |
| Free, nothing to buy | Mindustry (Android) | Costs $1.99 on iPhone |
| Free strategy, offline | Unciv | Android only; iPhone is a beta |
| Free chess | Lichess | Lowest Play score here (3.87) |
| A long, deep game | Terraria ($4.99) | Rated Teen |
| A calm puzzle game | Monument Valley 2 ($3.99) | Short |
| A young child | PBS KIDS Games | Not for older kids |
| Many games, one price (iPhone) | Apple Arcade ($6.99 a month) | You lose access if you stop paying |
| Many games, one price (Android) | Google Play Pass ($4.99 a month) | The catalog changes |
| You already pay for Netflix | Netflix games | Needs a Netflix login |
Pay once, nothing else to buy
These 11 games show no ads label on Google Play and list no in-app purchases. You pay once and that is it. Prices are US prices on 4 October 2026. "Offline tag" means Google Play's own Offline label on the listing.
1. Stardew Valley
The best single purchase on this page.
- Price: $4.99 on Google Play and the App Store · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.61 on Play (202,810 ratings), 4.81 on App Store · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 27 June 2026 on Play, 19 March 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: not shown · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: You farm, fish, mine and make friends for five dollars. The Play listing says "No in-app purchases," and no ads label shows. A Stardew Valley+ edition is also on Apple Arcade.
The catch: Play shows no Offline tag, so we do not call it an offline pick.
2. Balatro
A poker-and-jokers roguelike that is worth $9.99.
- Price: $9.99 on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.68 on Play (28,181 ratings), 4.96 on App Store (107,219) · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 7 September 2026 on Play, 5 June 2025 on App Store · Offline tag: not shown
Why it is here: It is the best-rated game on this page on iPhone. You build scoring combos from poker hands and joker cards, and nothing in the app is for sale.
The catch: It is the priciest pick. If you already pay for Apple Arcade, Balatro+ is included, so skip the $9.99 app.
3. Slay the Spire
The card battler that taught everyone the genre.
- Price: $6.99 on both stores (older lists say $9.99) · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.34 on Play (30,002 ratings), 4.25 on App Store · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 21 July 2026 on Play, 5 August 2025 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: You climb a tower, pick cards and try again after you lose. It has the Offline tag, and Slay the Spire+ is on Apple Arcade.
The catch: The iPhone version has far fewer ratings (3,229) than Play, so its score moves more.
4. Terraria
Dig, build and fight for $4.99.
- Price: $4.99 on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.55 on Play (409,026 ratings), 4.46 on App Store · Age: Teen on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 14 September 2026 on Play, 17 September 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: It is a huge game for $4.99. Both stores updated it in September 2026.
The catch: It is rated Teen, so it is not a game to hand to a young child.
5. Monument Valley 2
A short, beautiful puzzle game for $3.99.
- Price: $3.99 on both stores (older lists say $4.99) · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.89 on Play (85,810 ratings), 4.65 on App Store · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 2 March 2026 on Play, 4 September 2025 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: You guide a mother and child through impossible buildings. It has the highest Play score on this page, and it is fine for kids. Monument Valley 2+ is on Apple Arcade.
The catch: It is short. The first Monument Valley ($3.99) is not fully clean: it sells one optional expansion, Forgotten Shores, for $1.99.
6. Hidden Folks
Find tiny people in hand-drawn scenes.
- Price: $4.99 on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.77 on Play (4,914 ratings), 4.88 on App Store (12,529) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 17 November 2025 on Play, 19 November 2025 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: It is a search-and-find game that Play rates Everyone. Hidden Folks+ is on Apple Arcade.
The catch: It has fewer Play ratings (4,914) than most picks here.
7. Mini Metro
Draw subway lines and keep a city moving.
- Price: $0.99 on Play, $3.99 on App Store · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.63 on Play (74,601 ratings), 4.86 on App Store (31,709) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 16 June 2026 on Play, 15 September 2025 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing says "No ads or in-app purchases." At $0.99 it is among the cheapest games here on Android, and Mini Metro+ is on Apple Arcade.
The catch: The same game costs four times more on iPhone.
8. Geometry Dash
A rhythm platformer. The paid game has no ads.
- Price: $3.99 on both stores (older lists say $1.99) · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.75 on Play (1,085,534 ratings), 4.57 on App Store · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 28 January 2026 on Play, 29 January 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing says "No in-app purchases!" and carries the Offline tag. See our games like Geometry Dash guide for more.
The catch: Do not download the free Geometry Dash Lite by mistake. Play gives it a "Contains ads" label.
9. LIMBO
A dark, wordless puzzle platformer.
- Price: $3.99 on both stores; Play showed it on sale at $0.40 on 4 October · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.35 on Play (83,187 ratings), 4.56 on App Store · Age: Teen on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 13 August 2026 on Play, 5 March 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: It is a short, moody game with no words. LIMBO+ is also on Apple Arcade.
The catch: The $0.40 sale may be over when you read this. It is rated Teen.
10. The Room Three
Escape-room puzzles with 3D boxes.
- Price: $3.99 on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.86 on Play (114,035 ratings), 4.94 on App Store (33,871) · Age: Everyone on Play, 9+ on App Store
- Last update: 14 October 2025 on Play, 26 June 2018 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: Few games here have a better score on both stores. See our best puzzle games for Android for more like it.
The catch: The App Store version was last updated in June 2018. Read recent iPhone reviews first.
11. Threes!
A tiny number-merging puzzle.
- Price: $0.99 on Play, $5.99 on App Store · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.53 on Play (33,113 ratings), 4.01 on App Store · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 28 October 2025 on Play, 3 June 2025 on App Store · Offline tag: not shown
Why it is here: It is a cheap way to see the pay-once idea at work on Android.
The catch: iPhone costs six times more. The free "Threes! Freeplay" is a different listing, and Play gives it a "Contains ads" label.
Pay once, with optional extras
These three games show no ads label, but they do sell things inside the app. They are ad-free, not purchase-free.
12. Dead Cells
The best action game here, and it says so in plain words.
- Price: $8.49 on Play, $8.99 on App Store · Ads: no label · Items: $0.49 - $7.99 each on Play
- Rating: 4.80 on both stores (134,631 ratings on Play) · Age: Teen on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 8 September 2025 on Play, 5 December 2025 on App Store · Offline tag: yes · Play Pass flag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing says "No ads, no F2P mechanics!" The items are optional DLC. The App Store lists The Bad Seed, Fatal Falls and The Queen and the Sea at $3.99 each, and Return to Castlevania at $6.99.
The catch: Netflix members get a Netflix Edition that says it includes all the DLC, and Dead Cells+ is on Apple Arcade. It is rated Teen.
13. Minecraft
The safe pick for most ages, with a big shop on the side.
- Price: $6.99 on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: $0.99 - $49.99 each on Play
- Rating: 4.31 on Play (5,851,086 ratings), 4.51 on App Store (841,538) · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 9+ on App Store
- Last update: 25 September 2026 on Play, 28 September 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: Play shows no ads label. The Play title is now "Minecraft: Dream it, Build it!" The App Store lists store items and Realms subscriptions at $3.99 and $7.99.
The catch: It has the biggest shop on this list. Turn on purchase approval before a child plays.
14. Bloons TD 6
A tower defense game that is still updated.
- Price: $6.99 on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: $0.99 - $49.99 each on Play
- Rating: 4.76 on Play (401,462 ratings), 4.86 on App Store (348,097) · Age: Everyone on Play, 9+ on App Store
- Last update: 20 August 2026 on both stores · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: The developer says "single player offline works even when your WiFi doesn't." Bloons TD 6+ is on Arcade, and Bloons TD 6 Netflix is on iPhone.
The catch: It sells Monkey Money and a $4.99 "Full Tower Unlock" on iPhone. See our best tower defense games for free options.
Free, with no ads label
Free and ad-free is rare. These seven are free on Google Play with no "Contains ads" label. Four have nothing to buy. Three sell optional items.
15. Mindustry
A factory-building and tower-defense game, free on Android.
- Price: Free on Play, $1.99 on App Store · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.47 on Play (138,830 ratings), 4.53 on App Store · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 20 September 2026 on both stores · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: It is a deep free game with no ads label and no items. Both stores updated it in September 2026.
The catch: iPhone is paid ($1.99). Co-op multiplayer needs a connection.
16. Unciv
A free, open-source Civilization-style game.
- Price: Free on Play · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.57 on Play (54,681 ratings) · Age: Everyone
- Last update: 2 October 2026 on Play · Offline tag: yes · App Store: not listed
Why it is here: The Play listing says "no ads, free forever!" The listing calls it "fast, small." It was updated on 2 October 2026.
The catch: It is not on the App Store. The iPhone version is a TestFlight beta, and a public GitHub note says Apple rejected the store release on 16 September. Multiplayer needs a connection.
17. Simon Tatham's Puzzle Collection
Dozens of logic puzzles, free and offline.
- Price: Free on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.86 on Play (16,661 ratings), 4.79 on App Store (246) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 13 September 2025 on Play, 21 September 2020 on App Store · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing says "It will always be free, with no ads, and playable offline." It has the highest Play score of the free picks.
The catch: The App Store port is a separate listing by another developer and has not been updated since September 2020.
18. Lichess
Free chess with nothing locked.
- Price: Free on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 3.87 on Play (14,722 ratings), 4.07 on App Store (646) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 17 September 2026 on both stores · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing calls it "powered by volunteers and donations" and "100% free." You can solve puzzles online or offline.
The catch: It has the lowest Play score on this page. Live games need a connection, while puzzles can run offline.
19. Shattered Pixel Dungeon
A classic dungeon crawler, free on Android and paid on iPhone.
- Price: Free on Play, $4.99 on App Store · Ads: no label · Items: $4.99 - $19.99 each on Play
- Rating: 4.79 on Play (172,673 ratings), 4.89 on App Store (4,202) · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 3 October 2026 on both stores · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: Both stores updated it on 3 October 2026, the day before our check. The App Store listing shows no in-app purchases.
The catch: Play shows optional items from $4.99 to $19.99 but only as a price range. See our best roguelike games for more.
20. Monument Valley 3
Free to start, then one purchase unlocks the rest.
- Price: Free on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: one full-game unlock ($4.99 on Play, $5.99 on App Store)
- Rating: 4.85 on both stores (8,878 ratings on Play) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 7 August 2026 on Play, 26 January 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing says "Monument Valley 3 is free-to-start with no ads." You play the first chapters free and unlock the rest once.
The catch: Older lists call it a Netflix exclusive. That is out of date: both stores now list it from ustwo games.
21. Sky: Children of the Light
A free social adventure that sells candles, not ads.
- Price: Free on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: $0.99 - $49.99 each on Play
- Rating: 4.54 on Play (1,167,321 ratings), 4.82 on App Store (267,186) · Age: Everyone 10+ on Play, 13+ on App Store
- Last update: 19 August 2026 on Play, 25 August 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: not shown
Why it is here: The App Store lists candles and season passes as the items. Play shows no ads label.
The catch: Play shows no Offline tag, and the shop is large. It is free, not purchase-free.
Ad-free games for kids
For young kids, start with PBS KIDS Games or Khan Academy Kids. Both are free, show no ads label and list no in-app purchases. Here is how the age ratings compare.
| Game | Google Play rating | App Store age | Ads and items |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBS KIDS Games | Everyone | 4+ | No label, no items |
| Khan Academy Kids | Everyone | 4+ | No label, no items |
| Toca Boca World | Everyone | 4+ | No label, items $0.49 - $199.99 |
| Monument Valley 2 | Everyone | 4+ | No label, no items |
| Hidden Folks | Everyone | 4+ | No label, no items |
| Mini Metro | Everyone | 4+ | No label, no items |
| Geometry Dash | Everyone 10+ | 4+ | No label, no items |
| Minecraft | Everyone 10+ | 9+ | No label, items $0.99 - $49.99 |
| Stardew Valley | Everyone 10+ | 13+ | No label, no items |
| Terraria, LIMBO, Dead Cells | Teen | 13+ | See entries above |
Ratings differ by store. Stardew Valley is Everyone 10+ on Play but 13+ on the App Store. Check the store your child uses.
22. PBS KIDS Games
The free ad-free pick for young kids.
- Price: Free on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.29 on Play (55,394 ratings), 4.35 on App Store (371,949) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 25 September 2026 on Play, 1 October 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing says "280+ free educational games" from favorites like Daniel Tiger and Wild Kratts. The listing is in English and Spanish.
The catch: It is made for preschool to early elementary kids. Older kids will outgrow it. See our educational apps for kids guide for more.
23. Khan Academy Kids
A free learning app for young kids.
- Price: Free on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: none
- Rating: 4.57 on Play (57,079 ratings), 4.80 on App Store (131,264) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 26 September 2026 on Play, 30 September 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: not shown
Why it is here: The Play listing says it is "100% free with no ads or subscriptions" and lists offline use in its own text.
The catch: Play shows no Offline tag, so rely on the developer's text. It is a learning app more than a game.
24. Toca Boca World
Ad-free by its own words, but not purchase-free.
- Price: Free on both stores · Ads: no label · Items: $0.49 - $199.99 each on Play
- Rating: 4.35 on Play (6,840,709 ratings), 4.29 on App Store (890,933) · Age: Everyone on Play, 4+ on App Store
- Last update: 1 October 2026 on Play, 22 September 2026 on App Store · Offline tag: yes
Why it is here: The Play listing says "No third-party ads ever" and "Play is never interrupted by adverts or pop-ups."
The catch: Items go up to $199.99 on Play. Turn on purchase approval first. Netflix members can get the ad-free Toca Boca Hair Salon 4 with no items at all.
Before you hand over the phone, turn on purchase approval. On iPhone, Screen Time can turn off in-app purchases. On Android, Family Link purchase approvals ask you before any purchase. Both only cover purchases made through the store.
Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass and Netflix games
Three subscriptions remove ads by rule: Apple Arcade on iPhone, Google Play Pass on Android and Netflix games on both. Here is what each one says and costs in the US.
| Service | US price | Works on | What the company says | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Arcade | $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year. 3 months free with a new eligible device, 1 month free with Apple One | Apple devices | "No ads. No in-app purchases. No interruptions." Hundreds of games, online or offline. Share with up to five people | Look for the Arcade badge or a "+" in the name |
| Google Play Pass | Regular price $4.99 a month. Google set a $29.99 yearly plan in the US in 2020 | Android | "Over 1,000 games and apps" without ads or in-app purchases. Share with up to five family members | Play Pass flag on the listing. The catalog changes, so check before you pay |
| Netflix games | No extra fee. Included with your Netflix membership | Android phones and tablets, iPhone, iPad | "No ads. No extra fees. No in-app purchases." More than 80 mobile games | Needs a Netflix login. Games have maturity ratings |
Apple Arcade has "+" editions of many games on this page. On 4 October 2026 the US App Store marked these as Arcade: Balatro+, Stardew Valley+, Slay the Spire+, Dead Cells+, Bloons TD 6+, Hidden Folks+, Mini Metro+, Monument Valley 2+, LIMBO+ and Vampire Survivors+. The paid app and the "+" edition are separate listings.
Google Play flagged many pay-once picks as Play Pass on the same day, including Stardew Valley, Terraria, both Monument Valley games and Slay the Spire. It also flagged Alto's Odyssey and Plague Inc., which are free with ads for non-members.
Netflix's Play listings show no ads label and no items. Examples are Dead Cells: Netflix Edition (4.76 stars, Teen), Into the Breach (4.78, Everyone 10+), Puzzle Gods (4.17) and Toca Boca Hair Salon 4 (4.58, Everyone). Play says each is for Netflix members only.
Which is cheaper? Three or four pay-once games from this page cost about $15 to $25 once. Apple Arcade at $6.99 a month passes that in two to four months. A subscription wins only if you keep trying new games.
When the ads label and the listing disagree
The label is only what the developer declared. These games show a label that does not match the listing text. We do not guess why. We show both.
| Game | Play ads label | What the listing text says | Items on Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut the Rope GOLD ($0.99) | Contains ads | "AD-FREE!" and "does not contain third-party advertising. It may contain non-intrusive promotions for other ZeptoLab products." | $0.99 - $29.99 |
| Super Mario Run (free) | No label | "May contain advertisements." | One item, $9.99 (full game) |
| Sago Mini School (free trial) | Contains ads | "AD-FREE & NO IN-APP PURCHASES" | $7.99 - $79.99 (subscriptions) |
| Sago Mini World (free trial) | Contains ads | "No ads or in-app purchases for subscribers" | $0.99 - $79.99 |
| Dead Cells ($8.49) | No label | "No ads, no F2P mechanics!" | $0.49 - $7.99 (DLC) |
Google's own rule explains the first row: promoting your other apps counts as ads. That is why we read the label, the item line and the text together.
Same game, different deal on Android and iPhone
A game can be ad-free on one phone and not on the other. Always check the store you use.
| Game | Google Play (Android) | App Store (iPhone) |
|---|---|---|
| Alto's Odyssey | Free. Contains ads. Items $0.99 - $99.99. Play Pass flag | $4.99. The listing says "a premium game with no ads or in-app purchases." Last updated 16 February 2023 |
| Plague Inc. | Free. Contains ads. Items $0.99 - $14.99. Play Pass flag | $0.99. Sells optional items such as expansions ($1.99) and cheats ($9.99) |
| Vampire Survivors | Free. Contains ads. Items $0.99 - $3.99. Teen | Free. Lists add-on packs. Vampire Survivors+ is on Apple Arcade. We could not check its ads |
| Mindustry | Free. No label. No items | $1.99 |
| Shattered Pixel Dungeon | Free. No label. Items $4.99 - $19.99 | $4.99. No items listed |
| Mini Metro | $0.99 | $3.99 |
| Threes! | $0.99 | $5.99 |
| Unciv | Free. No label | Not on the App Store (beta only) |
Our older version of this guide listed Plague Inc. as a $0.99 ad-free game on both phones. On Android today it is free with ads. Only the iPhone version is paid.
Comparison table: all 24 games side by side
US prices on 4 October 2026. All 24 show no "Contains ads" label on Google Play. "Offline tag" is Google Play's own label.
| Game | Google Play price | App Store price | Items on Play (per item) | Offline tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stardew Valley | $4.99 | $4.99 | None | No |
| Balatro | $9.99 | $9.99 | None | No |
| Slay the Spire | $6.99 | $6.99 | None | Yes |
| Terraria | $4.99 | $4.99 | None | Yes |
| Monument Valley 2 | $3.99 | $3.99 | None | Yes |
| Hidden Folks | $4.99 | $4.99 | None | Yes |
| Mini Metro | $0.99 | $3.99 | None | Yes |
| Geometry Dash | $3.99 | $3.99 | None | Yes |
| LIMBO | $3.99 ($0.40 sale) | $3.99 | None | Yes |
| The Room Three | $3.99 | $3.99 | None | Yes |
| Threes! | $0.99 | $5.99 | None | No |
| Dead Cells | $8.49 | $8.99 | $0.49 - $7.99 | Yes |
| Minecraft | $6.99 | $6.99 | $0.99 - $49.99 | Yes |
| Bloons TD 6 | $6.99 | $6.99 | $0.99 - $49.99 | Yes |
| Mindustry | Free | $1.99 | None | Yes |
| Unciv | Free | Not listed | None | Yes |
| Simon Tatham's Puzzles | Free | Free | None | Yes |
| Lichess | Free | Free | None | Yes |
| Shattered Pixel Dungeon | Free | $4.99 | $4.99 - $19.99 | Yes |
| Monument Valley 3 | Free | Free | $4.99 (unlock) | Yes |
| Sky: Children of the Light | Free | Free | $0.99 - $49.99 | No |
| PBS KIDS Games | Free | Free | None | Yes |
| Khan Academy Kids | Free | Free | None | No |
| Toca Boca World | Free | Free | $0.49 - $199.99 | Yes |
Games other lists call ad-free that we removed
Some popular "no ads" picks are gone, have ads, or sell big items. We checked each on 4 October 2026.
| Game | What we found |
|---|---|
| GRIS | Not on US Google Play: the listing returns "Not Found" while other listings load. iPhone is $4.99, last updated 25 January 2021 |
| INSIDE | Not on US Google Play. iPhone is free with a $9.99 full-game unlock |
| Rocket League Sideswipe | Not on Google Play. It left Play in August 2024 and moved to the Epic Games Store. Still free on the App Store |
| Unciv on iPhone | Not on the App Store yet. TestFlight beta only |
| Geometry Dash Lite | Free, with a "Contains ads" label. The paid Geometry Dash has none |
| Plague Inc. on Android | Free, with a "Contains ads" label and items up to $14.99 |
| Vampire Survivors on Android | Free, with a "Contains ads" label |
| Coin Master | Contains ads, items up to $374.99 |
| Soul Knight | Contains ads, items up to $25.99 |
| Crossy Road | Contains ads, items up to $29.99 |
| Monopoly GO!, Roblox, Honkai: Star Rail | No ads label, but items up to $199.99, $199.99 and $99.99 |
For endless runners, our endless runner guide shows which have an ad-free edition.
How to check any game in 30 seconds
Read these on the store page before you tap Install.
- Google Play: Look under the title for "Contains ads." Then find the "In-app purchases" line, which shows a price range per item.
- App Store: Scroll to Information and tap In-App Purchases. If the row is missing, the game lists no items. The App Store has no ads label.
- Both: Read the first lines of the description. Look for "no ads," "ad-free" or "may contain advertisements."
- Offline: On Play, look for the "Offline" tag. On iPhone, read the description.
- Subscriptions: An Arcade badge, a Play Pass flag or "Netflix" in the name means the service removes ads.
Hit by ads in a game you already love? Our game ad blocker guide covers Private DNS and other free fixes. For games that need no connection at all, see our best offline games for Android.
How we checked these games
Written by Aditya Singh for AndroidHire. Every fact comes from a public store page or an official company page.
- We started with the games in the old version of this guide, then added more than 30 candidates from the pages that rank for these searches and from Google Play search. We dropped any game that was not live on US Google Play.
- On 4 October 2026 we loaded the US Google Play listing of every pick. From it we took the price, the ads label, the per-item price range, the rating and rating count, the age rating, the update date, the Offline and Play Pass flags and the developer's text. A made-up package name returned "Not Found," which is how we confirmed GRIS, INSIDE and Sideswipe are not listed.
- We loaded the US App Store page of every pick for the price, the In-App Purchases list, the rating, the age rating and the update date. Arcade "+" editions were identified by their Arcade marking.
- Apple Arcade wording and price come from apple.com. Play Pass price comes from Google's offer terms, and Google's own help pages say "over 1,000 games and apps, without ads or in-app purchases." Netflix wording comes from help.netflix.com.
- The Play ads label is developer-declared, so we never said "no ads" from a missing label alone. We also read the developer's text.
- The Play Pass flag comes from the public listing page. Play Pass catalogs change, so confirm in your own Play Store. Sale prices, such as LIMBO's $0.40, change often.
- We did not play these games for this page. We only report what we could check.
Last checked: 4 October 2026. Update log: rebuilt from live listings.
- Corrected prices: Slay the Spire ($6.99, was $9.99), Dead Cells ($8.49 on Play, $8.99 on iPhone), Geometry Dash ($3.99, was $1.99) and Monument Valley 2 ($3.99).
- Monument Valley 3 is no longer Netflix only.
- Removed GRIS, INSIDE and Rocket League Sideswipe, and fixed the Plague Inc., Unciv, Netflix and Play Pass details.
Bottom line
Buy Stardew Valley first. It is $4.99, shows no ads label and sells nothing inside. For cards, buy Balatro. For free, try Mindustry or Unciv on Android, or PBS KIDS Games for a young child.
If you like many games, Apple Arcade ($6.99 a month), Google Play Pass ($4.99 a month) or the Netflix plan you already pay for will do it.
"No ads" is a claim, not a fact. Read the label, the item line and the description before you install. Want more games? See our best mobile games, best free mobile games, funny mobile games and best offline games for Android. For cards, try our best card games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best games with no ads?
Stardew Valley ($4.99), Balatro ($9.99), Slay the Spire ($6.99) and Terraria ($4.99) are the best pay-once picks. None shows Google's "Contains ads" label or sells in-app items. For free, Mindustry, Unciv and PBS KIDS Games show no ads label either. We checked all of them on 4 October 2026.
Are there offline games with no ads?
Yes. Slay the Spire, Terraria, Monument Valley 2, Mini Metro and Geometry Dash show no ads label and carry Google Play's Offline tag. Mindustry, Unciv and Simon Tatham's Puzzles are free and tagged offline too. Stardew Valley and Balatro show no Offline tag on Play, so we do not promise them.
Are there games with no ads and no in-app purchases?
Yes. On Google Play, Stardew Valley, Balatro, Slay the Spire, Terraria, Monument Valley 2 and Hidden Folks show no ads label and no in-app purchases. Free ones include Mindustry, Unciv, PBS KIDS Games and Khan Academy Kids. Dead Cells, Minecraft and Bloons TD 6 have no ads label but sell extras.
What are good ad-free games for iPhone?
Pay-once games such as Stardew Valley ($4.99), Balatro ($9.99) and Hidden Folks ($4.99) list no in-app purchases on the App Store. Apple Arcade ($6.99 a month) adds hundreds of games, and Apple says "No ads. No in-app purchases." The App Store has no ads label, so read each listing.
Are Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass and Netflix games ad-free?
Yes, by each company's own rules. Apple says Arcade has no ads or in-app purchases. Google says Play Pass has over 1,000 games and apps without ads or in-app purchases. Netflix says its games have no ads, no extra fees and no in-app purchases. Each needs a subscription or a Netflix plan.
Which ad-free games are safe for kids?
PBS KIDS Games and Khan Academy Kids are free, rated Everyone on Google Play and 4+ on the App Store, with no ads label and no in-app purchases. Toca Boca World says "No third-party ads ever" but sells items up to $199.99 on Play, so turn on purchase approval first.
How can I tell if a game has ads before I download it?
On Google Play, look under the title for "Contains ads," then read the "In-app purchases" price range. On the App Store, open Information and tap In-App Purchases. Then read the first lines of the description. The Play label is declared by the developer, so check all three.
How do games with no ads make money?
They sell the game up front, sell optional items, take donations or are built by volunteers. Stardew Valley costs $4.99. Sky is free but sells candles and season passes. Lichess says it is powered by volunteers and donations. Unciv is open source and free.
