# Idle Universe vs Sync Ball

Idle Universe and Sync Ball both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 65% of Idle Universe's written reviews are positive against 18% of Sync Ball's. Sync Ball's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Universe sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Sync Ball asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sync Ball holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Idle Universe's written reviews are positive against 18% of Sync Ball's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Idle Universe ships an update every 3 weeks, Sync Ball every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Universe | Sync Ball |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094/reviews) | **[4.4 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sync-ball/id1644381991/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | **65.2% of reviews** | 17.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 297 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dominik Stallmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195110093) | [Hyperlab Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562984132) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Universe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094)

Tap to gather matter and create interstellar objects, from particles to galaxies. Objects automatically generate more matter, allowing for endless universe expansion. Unlock divine powers, upgrade objects, and utilize special abilities to grow your cosmic creation.

**Highlights:** Create 31 interstellar objects, Unlock 24 Divine Powers, Upgrade objects with multiple options, Obtain Dark Matter for special abilities, Gain Antimatter via prestige for permanent upgrades, Compete on leaderboards, Earn daily rewards and achievements

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 250 Dark Matter | $3.99 | one-time |
| Double Antimatter Gains | $4.99 | one-time |
| +100% Transcendence Exp | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove All Ads | $8.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Dark Matter | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Dark Matter | $24.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Dark Matter | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Organized and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient progression system
- 💡 Unique and engaging concept
- 🎨 Good graphics and visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔋 Slow progress without watching ads
- 🤖 Forced Google account login
- 🔍 Unclear game mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Prestige button not working
- Ads not providing expected rewards
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Incorrect offline progress tracking

**Requested features**

- Offline progress tracking
- More prestige layers and upgrades
- Better optimization for larger screens
- Improved tutorial and explanations


### Sync Ball

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sync-ball/id1644381991)

This game allows you to increase the number and level of your balls, which in turn boosts your in-game income. The visual experience is designed to be relaxing and hypnotic.

**Highlights:** Increase ball count, Level up balls, Boost in-game income, Hypnotic visuals, Relaxing experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Satisfying gameplay
- 💡 Interesting concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Lack of content/levels
- 📺 Excessive ads
- 🔍 Repetitive gameplay

**Reported bugs**

- Game not starting
- Buttons not working
- Loss of progress after updates

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Improved performance and stability
- Reduced ads or paid ad-free option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Universe free?

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

### Is Sync Ball free?

Sync Ball is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Idle Universe or Sync Ball?

Sync Ball is rated higher. Idle Universe averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Sync Ball averages 4.4 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Idle Universe or Sync Ball have ads?

Both Idle Universe and Sync Ball show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Universe or Sync Ball?

Idle Universe ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sync Ball every 5 days. Most recently, Idle Universe was updated on October 26, 2026 and Sync Ball on October 24, 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.*