# Kernel King vs Idle Guns Tycoon

The clearest difference is ads: Kernel King at none against Idle Guns Tycoon's shown. Kernel King also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (40 vs 1). Idle Guns Tycoon's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 89%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kernel King sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Guns Tycoon sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Kernel King holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kernel King has 40 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Kernel King's written reviews are positive against 100% of Idle Guns Tycoon's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Kernel King ships an update every 6 days, Idle Guns Tycoon fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kernel King | Idle Guns Tycoon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel-king/id1072806976/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-guns-tycoon-clicker-game/id6465202268/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **40** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 89.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 216 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Blake Eckert](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031112881) | [Evgeny Grishakov](https://appshunter.io/developer/573829721) |

## What reviewers say

### Kernel King

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel-king/id1072806976)

Tap to create an endless stream of popcorn in this addictive idle game. Invest in upgrades to pop faster, earn more, and unlock new poppers. Compete with friends and aim to become the ultimate Kernel King.

**Highlights:** Tap to make popcorn, Investments for faster popping, Upgrade popper and recipe, Offline kernel earnings, Unlockable poppers, Prestige system, Bonuses and multipliers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Double Kernels Per Second | $0.99 | one-time |
| Double Kernels | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kernel Blast | $1.99 | one-time |
| Shaker of Salt | $1.99 | one-time |
| Treadmill | $1.99 | one-time |
| King Kernel | $4.99 | one-time |
| Salt Mine | $9.99 | one-time |
| Kernel Bomb | $19.99 | one-time |
| Forever 20x | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Highly addictive and engaging gameplay
- 👍 Simple and easy to play mechanics
- 🎮 Fun way to pass time and avoid boredom
- 💰 Can customize without spending real money
- 🎯 Great for all ages including children

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ads appearing frequently
- 💸 Expensive upgrades and progression
- 🐛 Game crashes and kicks to home screen
- ⏱️ Slow progression and kernel earning
- 🔄 Data loss after crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes and forces user to home screen
- Data loss when game crashes
- Game won't start without reviewing or advertising
- Glitches causing loss of progress

**Requested features**

- Timer mode to track kernels earned
- Upgrade levels with multipliers for easier progression
- Better tutorial or onboarding instructions
- More diverse upgrades and features


### Idle Guns Tycoon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-guns-tycoon-clicker-game/id6465202268)

Build and customize a variety of firearms, from pistols to rifles, in this idle tycoon game. Test your creations in shooting scenarios and upgrade your arsenal to become the ultimate marksman. Progress continues even when you're offline.

**Highlights:** Build custom firearms, Upgrade weapon components, Engage in shooting scenarios, Earn points offline, Unlock new parts and improvements, Realistic simulator elements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 60 Diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| No ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 10x tap on Gear | $3.99 | one-time |
| 120 Diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| Resources bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| 300 Diamonds & No ads | $5.99 | one-time |
| 700 Diamonds & No ads | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mega pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Diamonds & No ads | $49.99 | one-time |
| Resources bundle | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kernel King free?

Kernel King is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Idle Guns Tycoon free?

Idle Guns Tycoon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Kernel King or Idle Guns Tycoon?

Kernel King is rated higher. Kernel King averages 4.5 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while Idle Guns Tycoon averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Kernel King or Idle Guns Tycoon have ads?

Idle Guns Tycoon shows ads; Kernel King does not.

### Which is updated more often, Kernel King or Idle Guns Tycoon?

Kernel King ships an update every 6 days, and Idle Guns Tycoon fortnightly. Most recently, Kernel King was updated on November 2, 2026 and Idle Guns Tycoon 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.*