# Space Grunts vs Star Traders

The clearest difference is rating: Star Traders at 4.6 against Space Grunts's 4.2. Star Traders also leads on ratings volume (668 vs 15) and chart position (#32 vs #200). Space Grunts's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $6.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.1). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Space Grunts costs $3.99 and Star Traders $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Star Traders holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Traders has 668 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of Space Grunts's written reviews are positive against 73% of Star Traders's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Space Grunts ships an update every 5 weeks, Star Traders every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Space Grunts | Star Traders |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $6.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-grunts/id1018002876/reviews) | **[4.6 (668 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **668** |
| Positive reviews | **75.9% of reviews** | 73.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #200 | **#32** |
| Size | 52 MB | 316 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Pascal Bestebroer](https://appshunter.io/developer/364591324) | [Trese Brothers](https://appshunter.io/developer/528949265) |

## What reviewers say

### Space Grunts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-grunts/id1018002876)

**Currently charting:** #200 Top Paid · Role Playing (US App Store)

Engage in a unique blend of fast-paced arcade action and strategic turn-based combat. Explore a distressed moon base, battling aliens and robots to uncover its secrets. Utilize a variety of weapons and consumables to survive and complete your mission.

**Highlights:** Turn-based gameplay, Arcade action, Roguelike shooter elements, Alien and robot combat, Weapon and consumable collection, Secret areas and routes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Star Traders

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232)

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Paid · Role Playing, #73 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

Command your own starship and crew in a vast, procedurally generated open universe. Forge your path as a pirate, merchant, bounty hunter, or explorer, influencing factions and shaping your crew through your choices in this epic sci-fi RPG.

**Highlights:** Open universe exploration, Multiple captain careers (26 jobs), Spaceship customization (350+ upgrades), Crew assembly and talent management, Dynamic narrative and faction influence, Crew molding based on player choices, Varied difficulty options including permadeath

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Impressive depth and complexity
- 🌍 Vast open-world with endless possibilities
- 🔍 Engaging story and lore
- 🤖 Diverse gameplay options (trading, exploration, combat, etc.)
- 🕹️ Satisfying ship and crew management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Steep learning curve, lacks clear tutorials
- 🔍 Repetitive or tedious aspects in late game
- 📱 UI/UX issues on smaller mobile devices
- 🎲 Frustrating RNG elements and difficulty spikes
- 🔒 Lack of cloud save functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Crew combat screen UI issues causing accidental input
- Reputation/faction system bugs leading to unexpected outcomes
- Crashes and freezes when navigating certain screens
- Inconsistent behavior with ship component upgrades

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize ship colors and appearances
- Option to command/control multiple ships as a fleet
- More end-game content and progression systems
- Improved UI scaling and optimization for larger screens
- Cloud save/sync functionality across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Space Grunts free?

Space Grunts costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Star Traders free?

Star Traders costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Space Grunts or Star Traders?

Star Traders is rated higher. Space Grunts averages 4.2 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Star Traders averages 4.6 from 668 ratings.

### Do Space Grunts or Star Traders have ads?

Neither Space Grunts nor Star Traders shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Space Grunts or Star Traders?

Space Grunts ships an update every 5 weeks, and Star Traders every 3 weeks. Most recently, Space Grunts was updated on September 19, 2026 and Star Traders on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Space Grunts or Star Traders?

Space Grunts currently peaks at #200 in the App Store charts, and Star Traders at #32. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*