Dead Cells vs Brawl Stars
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Dead Cells is the better app overall, scoring 9.2 to 8.1. Dead Cells wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Brawl Stars on 2.
Players who want a deep, premium roguelite with no ads or timers
Friends who want fast, team-based shooting matches in short bursts
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Dead Cells | Brawl Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Action & Shooter Games | Action & Shooter Games |
| Category rank | #1 of 8 | #7 of 8 |
| Developer | Playdigious | Supercell |
| Pricing | Paid | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | No | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Dead Cells better than Brawl Stars?
Dead Cells is the better app overall, scoring 9.2 to 8.1. Dead Cells wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Brawl Stars on 2.
Which is cheaper, Dead Cells or Brawl Stars?
Dead Cells: $8.99 on the App Store, $8.49 on Google Play; four DLC packs sold separately. Brawl Stars: Free to play; Gems from $1.99, plus paid Brawl Pass upgrades. On value for money, Dead Cells scores higher.
Do Dead Cells and Brawl Stars work on the same devices?
Only Dead Cells runs on Windows, Mac, Linux.
Which is more private, Dead Cells or Brawl Stars?
Dead Cells scores higher on privacy (9.2/10). App Store label: user content and diagnostics may be collected but are not linked to you, and nothing is used to track you. Google Play lists only app performance data.
Strengths and weaknesses
Dead Cells
- One price, no ads, no energy timers
- Combat feels precise even on a touchscreen
- Huge variety of weapons, biomes and bosses
- Major content updates have ended on mobile
- DLC packs cost extra, up to $6.99 each
- Steep difficulty can frustrate newcomers
Dead Cells is the action game to buy if you want one that respects your time and money. Each run through the shifting castle mixes fast, precise combat with weapons and shortcuts you unlock as you go, so even dying feels like progress. The mobile port has thoughtful touch controls, full controller support and all four expansions. Big content updates have ended, so what you get now is the finished game.
Full Dead Cells review
Brawl Stars
- Quick matches that fit a short break
- Easy controls with real depth
- Polished, colorful art and steady updates
- Progression is slow without spending
- Some purchases include random items
- Privacy label lists tracking
Brawl Stars packs a full arena shooter into matches that last under three minutes. Pick a Brawler, team up, and play Gem Grab, Brawl Ball, Heist or the Showdown battle royale with simple twin-stick controls that suit a phone perfectly. Supercell ships a big update every month or two, packed with new Brawlers. Unlocking and upgrading them is slow unless you pay, and some purchases include random items.
Full Brawl Stars review
