Report updated Apr 18, 2026
Stack the States®
For students, children, and families looking for an engaging, educational, and safe way to learn US geography without the distraction of ads or microtransactions.
Stack the States® is a market-leading education app that is a paid app. With a 4.6/5 rating from 4.4K reviews, it delivers strong user satisfaction. Users particularly appreciate educational effectiveness, though outdated content remains a common concern.
What is Stack the States®?
Current Momentum
v3.1 · 5mo ago
MaintenanceStack the States® is currently in maintenance mode, with no major feature updates released in the last 18 months.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
What Are The Key Features?
Uses a realistic physics engine to allow users to touch, move, and stack animated state shapes.
Includes five distinct game modes (Stack the States, Map It, Pile Up, Puzzler, Capital Drop) within a single app.
The app contains no third-party ads, in-app purchases, or data collection tools.
Collects states to fill a personalized map and allows creation of up to six player profiles.
How much does it cost?
- Single purchase price of $2.99
A straightforward, one-time purchase model that emphasizes a 'no-distraction' environment by explicitly excluding ads, IAPs, and data tracking.
Who Built It?
Freecloud Design
Providing families with ad-free, physics-based educational games that transform academic trivia into interactive puzzles.
Portfolio
9
Apps
What other apps does Freecloud Design make?
Explore the full Freecloud Design report
Portfolio breakdown, audience, momentum, and every app published by Freecloud Design.
What do users think recently?
High confidence · 99 reviews analyzed · Based on 99 reviews. Signal may be noisy.
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a thrilled sentiment. Users appreciate educational effectiveness and nostalgic appeal, but report outdated content and age appropriateness.
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for Stack the States®?
How's The Education Market?
How does it evolve in the Education market?
Rank progression
194 active rankings tracked — 30-day window
The rivals identified
The outtake for Stack the States®
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Unique physics-based stacking mechanic
- Strong brand equity and nostalgia factor
- Clean, safe monetization model (no ads/IAPs)
Critical Frictions
- Slow content update cycle compared to high-velocity rivals
- 2D visual style may appear dated compared to 3D competitors
- Lack of social or competitive layers (leaderboards)
Growth Levers
- Introduction of a 'Junior Mode' for the 4-5 age demographic
- Expansion into AR (Augmented Reality) stacking
- Cross-integration with other 'Stack the...' titles
Market Threats
- Free alternatives like Khan Academy Kids
- Competitors with social ecosystems like Seterra/GeoGuessr
- High-frequency content updates from rivals
What are the next best moves?
Audit and update all state symbols
User complaints regarding the Minnesota flag highlight that content accuracy is a primary expectation in the Education category.
Implement a 'Junior' physics mode
Sentiment data indicates the current physics difficulty is a barrier for the 4-5 year old demographic.
Investigate 'rebuy' payment glitches
Negative reviews regarding being forced to rebuy the app directly impact the trust-based 'paid once' brand promise.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Social leaderboards and friend challenges (available in Seterra)
- 3D globe visualization (available in StudyGe)
- Voice mode for hands-free learning (available in Seterra)
- Multi-language support (available in World Geography)
Key Takeaways
Stack the States® is a high-sentiment legacy leader that must defend its niche by modernizing its content velocity. While the physics engine remains a unique differentiator, the lack of social connectivity and 3D visuals makes it vulnerable to high-velocity competitors like Seterra and StudyGe.
Where Is It Heading?
Stable
Maintains #11 Paid ranking in US Education — indicates strong organic demand and brand trust.
Recent updates (v3.2) focused on bug fixes and flag updates — active maintenance but no major feature expansion.
Thrilled user base with high nostalgia — creates a self-sustaining recommendation loop among parents.