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Pokemon Apps & Games · Tool Face-Off

Pokemon GO vs Pokemon HOME

Quick answer

Pokemon GO is an outdoor AR adventure game; Pokemon HOME is a cloud storage locker for your Pokemon collection. They serve totally different purposes but work better together.

Our pick
Pokemon GO
Catch 'em all in the real world — then walk off the calories
4.4★
VS
Pokemon HOME
The cloud vault where your Pokemon wait patiently for you
2.8★
Primary Purpose
AR catching & battling game
Cloud Pokemon storage & transfer
Free Tier
Yes — fully playable for free
Yes — 30 Pokemon storage limit
Paid Plan Cost
$0–$10/month (Pokecoin bundles vary)
$2.99/month or $15.99/year (Premium)
Pokemon Storage Capacity
Up to 6,200 slots (expandable)
Up to 6,000 slots (Premium)
Platforms
iOS & Android only
iOS, Android & Nintendo Switch
Game Connectivity
Connects to HOME, Scarlet/Violet (limited)
Connects to Sword/Shield, SV, GO, Legends
Pokedex Tracking
GO-only regional Pokedex
National Pokedex across all linked games
Trading Feature
Real-time local & remote trading
Wonder Box & GTS trades (asynchronous)
Requires Going Outside
Yes — that's the whole point
No — couch-friendly cloud management
Raid & Battle Content
Extensive — 5-star raids, PvP, GO Battle League
None — it's storage, not a game
Mystery Gifts / Events
Frequent seasonal events & Community Days
Occasional Mystery Gifts for depositing Pokemon
Internet Required
Yes — always online
Yes — cloud-based by design

Pokemon GO

Features★★★★½
Fun Factor★★★★½
Ease of Use★★★★☆
Value for Money★★★★☆
Updates & Support★★★★½
Social & Community★★★★★

Pokemon HOME

Features★★★☆☆
Fun Factor★★½☆☆
Ease of Use★★★½☆
Value for Money★★½☆☆
Updates & Support★★★☆☆
Social & Community★★☆☆☆

Worth knowing

Transferring a Pokemon from GO to HOME gives it a special 'GO' mark on its summary screen — a tiny badge of shame (or honor) that it was caught by someone walking around a parking lot.

If you want

You want an actual game to play daily

Pokemon GO is a full-featured live-service game with raids, PvP, and events — HOME is literally just storage.

→ Pick Pokemon GO
If you want

You play multiple mainline Pokemon Switch games and want one place for your collection

HOME bridges Sword/Shield, Scarlet/Violet, Legends Arceus and GO into one National Pokedex hub.

→ Pick Pokemon HOME
If you want

You're a hardcore collector wanting to preserve shinies and legendaries long-term

HOME's Premium plan gives you 6,000 cloud slots safely separate from any single game's save file.

→ Pick Pokemon HOME
If you want

You want something social and community-driven

Pokemon GO's raid system, Friend list, and Community Days create genuine real-world social moments that HOME simply doesn't offer.

→ Pick Pokemon GO
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