# Aquarium Sim vs Swarm Simulator

The clearest difference is rating: Swarm Simulator at 4.7 against Aquarium Sim's 4.0. Swarm Simulator also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (2.7K vs 43). Aquarium Sim's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swarm Simulator sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Aquarium Sim asks for nothing beyond the download.

Swarm Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Swarm Simulator has 2.7K ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Aquarium Sim's written reviews are positive against 78% of Swarm Simulator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Aquarium Sim ships an update every 3 months, Swarm Simulator every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on August 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Aquarium Sim | Swarm Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquarium-sim/id1155194815/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swarm-simulator-evolution/id1320056680/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 43 | **2.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 78.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 78 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [1788918 Alberta Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/597315953) | [Iron Horse Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281721366) |

## What reviewers say

### Aquarium Sim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aquarium-sim/id1155194815)

Create and manage your own virtual aquarium filled with a diverse range of marine and freshwater fish. Customize your underwater environment with various habitats and interact with your aquatic pets by feeding them. Enjoy a relaxing visual experience with realistic fish behaviors.

**Highlights:** 82 detailed fish species, Customizable aquarium environments, Realistic swimming behaviors, Interactive feeding and tapping, Marine and freshwater habitats

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Swarm Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swarm-simulator-evolution/id1320056680)

Evolve your insect colony from simple larvae to powerful hive minds in this 3D incremental idle clicker game. Conquer territory, sacrifice units for growth, and ascend to unlock new mutations and expand your swarm across the universe.

**Highlights:** Incremental idle clicker gameplay, Endless progression and unit evolution, Idle mode for offline growth, Ascend system with new mutations, All-new 3D graphics and units, Elixir buffs and Golden Bug bonuses

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pouch of Crystals | $4.99 | one-time |
| Elixir Mega Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Swarm Supporter Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Crystals | $9.99 | one-time |
| Crystalline King Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Arcane Amplifier Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Super Shards Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Challenge Crusher Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Crystals | $19.99 | one-time |
| Elixir Ultra Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Storehouse of Crystals | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 💡 Unique incremental mechanics
- 🔒 Minimal ads, not intrusive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in recent updates
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Stuck on loading screen
- Incorrect display of resources and upgrades
- Issues with cloud save functionality

**Requested features**

- More content and updates
- Offline mode
- Customization options
- Improved progression and endgame


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Aquarium Sim free?

Aquarium Sim is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Swarm Simulator free?

Swarm Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Aquarium Sim or Swarm Simulator?

Swarm Simulator is rated higher. Aquarium Sim averages 4.0 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Swarm Simulator averages 4.7 from 2.7K ratings.

### Do Aquarium Sim or Swarm Simulator have ads?

Both Aquarium Sim and Swarm Simulator show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Aquarium Sim or Swarm Simulator?

Aquarium Sim ships an update every 3 months, and Swarm Simulator every 9 days. Most recently, Aquarium Sim was updated on August 24, 2026 and Swarm Simulator on September 22, 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.*