# Merchant RPG vs Idle Sword 2

The clearest difference is ads: Idle Sword 2 at none against Merchant RPG's shown. Idle Sword 2 also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Merchant RPG's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (69% vs 52%). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merchant RPG sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Sword 2 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Merchant RPG holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 276 and 234 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Merchant RPG's written reviews are positive against 52% of Idle Sword 2's.

Merchant RPG ships an update every 4 months, Idle Sword 2 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merchant RPG | Idle Sword 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merchant-rpg/id1035170074/reviews)** | [4.3 (234 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-sword-2/id1281721367/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **276** | 234 |
| Positive reviews | **68.9% of reviews** | 51.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Retora Game Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/484290233) | [Iron Horse Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281721366) |

## What reviewers say

### Merchant RPG

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merchant-rpg/id1035170074)

Manage a fantasy shopkeeping empire by sending heroes on quests for materials and using crafters to create gear. Balance crafting, selling, and hero upgrades to build your trade empire and conquer foes. This offline idle RPG blends tycoon mechanics with traditional RPG elements.

**Highlights:** Send heroes on quests, Craft weapons and armor, Manage shop economy, Upgrade heroes and crafters, Raid bosses, Customize characters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 16 Inventory Slots | $0.99 | one-time |
| 16 Additional Inventory Slots II | $0.99 | one-time |
| 16 Additional Inventory Slots III | $0.99 | one-time |
| 16 Additional Inventory Slots | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock the Jeweler | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hero Slot I | $0.99 | one-time |
| Enchanter Unlock | $1.99 | one-time |
| Frozen Tome Expansion | $2.99 | one-time |
| Scribe Expansion | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlocks Everything | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Simple yet deep mechanics
- 🎨 Lovely pixel art style
- 💰 Fair monetization model
- ⏱️ Quick progression

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Cuts off background audio
- 🤔 Confusing for new players
- 🤖 Lack of combat animations
- 🧠 Repetitive gameplay loop

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not working properly
- Inventory management issues
- Progression-blocking bugs

**Requested features**

- Add save slots or cloud sync
- Improve equipment visuals
- Implement auto-repeat quests
- Provide more guidance for new players


### Idle Sword 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-sword-2/id1281721367)

Embark on an epic clicker adventure through perilous dungeons. Tap to guide your heroes, battle monsters and bosses, and collect powerful upgrades. Discover new heroes and equip them to survive the challenges of this retro RPG.

**Highlights:** Explore Dungeons, Battle Monsters, Epic Boss Battles, Collect Upgrades, Find New Heroes, Tap to Guide Heroes

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Auto Power-Up | $1.99 | one-time |
| Super Swiping Power! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Small Gem Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Speed Boost | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lush Jungle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Gem Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Start Pack for New Players | $11.99 | one-time |
| God Powers bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Large Gems Pack | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Enjoyable RPG mechanics
- 💎 Generous monetization model

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 📱 UI issues on newer devices
- 🕰️ Lack of updates and support

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes after watching ads
- Inventory UI cuts off on iPhone X
- Saved progress not transferring between devices

**Requested features**

- Restore purchase option
- Leaderboards and social features
- More content and dungeons


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merchant RPG free?

Merchant RPG is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Idle Sword 2 free?

Idle Sword 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Merchant RPG or Idle Sword 2?

Merchant RPG is rated higher. Merchant RPG averages 4.6 out of 5 from 276 ratings, while Idle Sword 2 averages 4.3 from 234 ratings.

### Do Merchant RPG or Idle Sword 2 have ads?

Merchant RPG shows ads; Idle Sword 2 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Merchant RPG or Idle Sword 2?

Merchant RPG ships an update every 4 months, and Idle Sword 2 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Merchant RPG was updated on November 2, 2026 and Idle Sword 2 on November 3, 2026.

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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.*