Fortnite vs Brawl Stars
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Fortnite is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.1. Fortnite wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Brawl Stars on 2.
Friend groups who want one free game with shooting, building, music and party modes
Friends who want fast, team-based shooting matches in short bursts
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Fortnite | Brawl Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Action & Shooter Games | Action & Shooter Games |
| Category rank | #3 of 8 | #7 of 8 |
| Developer | Epic Games | Supercell |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Fortnite better than Brawl Stars?
Fortnite is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.1. Fortnite wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Brawl Stars on 2.
Which is cheaper, Fortnite or Brawl Stars?
Fortnite: Free to play; V-Bucks from $1.99, Fortnite Crew listed at $11.99 a month. Brawl Stars: Free to play; Gems from $1.99, plus paid Brawl Pass upgrades. On value for money, Fortnite scores higher.
Do Fortnite and Brawl Stars work on the same devices?
Only Fortnite runs on Windows.
Which is more private, Fortnite or Brawl Stars?
Fortnite scores higher on privacy (6.8/10). App Store label: no data is used to track you. Purchases, coarse location, contact info, user content, search history, identifiers and usage data may be linked to you.
Strengths and weaknesses
Fortnite
- Huge variety of modes in one free app
- Purchases are cosmetic, not pay-to-win
- Plays with friends on PC and console
- Touch aiming is harder than with a controller
- 4.5 GB download and heavy battery use
- Skins and passes add up fast
Fortnite is less one game than a whole lineup: Battle Royale, Zero Build for people who can't build, fast Reload matches, LEGO Fortnite, Fortnite Festival and thousands of creator-made islands. It's back on both the App Store and Google Play, and you can squad up with friends on PC and console. What you buy is cosmetic. Touch aiming takes practice, and it's a big download that wants a fairly recent phone.
Full Fortnite 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
