# Basic.Space vs The Essential

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Basic.Space at 67% against The Essential's 24%. Basic.Space also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and ads (none vs shown). The Essential's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Basic.Space holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 319 and 100 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Basic.Space's written reviews are positive against 24% of The Essential's.

Basic.Space ships an update every 6 days, The Essential monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic.Space | The Essential |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (319 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basicspace/id1163845100/reviews)** | [3.9 (100 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-essential/id1522395728/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **319** | 100 |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 24.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 159 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Basic Space, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1334826103) | [Inhabit.io, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1522395730) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic.Space

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basicspace/id1163845100)

Discover and purchase exclusive, curated items in design, art, and fashion. Access private online drops and unique member-only events. This marketplace is for those seeking personal, experimental, and true creations.

**Highlights:** Curated marketplace, Exclusive product drops, Access to new and next trends, Members-only events, Global network of creatives

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Community of creatives
- 💡 Innovative shopping experience
- 🤩 Engaging and addicting
- 👍 Easy to find items
- 🌟 Great curation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App is buggy
- 🤷‍♀️ Complicated seller experience
- 💸 Misleading promotion
- 🚫 Sign in with Apple crashes
- ❌ Can't create account

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on sign in
- Items removed without reason
- Error message on verification
- Keyboard covers input field
- Random video audios play

**Requested features**

- Contact for help
- More videos/creators
- Filter by size/category
- iPad version
- Clearer item wear/damage info


### The Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-essential/id1522395728)

Discover and purchase furniture directly from the factories that produce for designer brands. Enjoy high-quality pieces without the traditional retail markups. Access factory-direct pricing for stylish home furnishings.

**Highlights:** Factory-direct furniture, Designer-quality at lower prices, Avoid retail markups, Access to original factory sources

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic.Space free?

Basic.Space is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Essential free?

The Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Basic.Space or The Essential?

Basic.Space is rated higher. Basic.Space averages 4.6 out of 5 from 319 ratings, while The Essential averages 3.9 from 100 ratings.

### Do Basic.Space or The Essential have ads?

The Essential shows ads; Basic.Space does not.

### Which is updated more often, Basic.Space or The Essential?

Basic.Space ships an update every 6 days, and The Essential monthly. Most recently, Basic.Space was updated on September 20, 2026 and The Essential on August 12, 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.*