# Idle Universe vs Planet Builder

The clearest difference is rating: Planet Builder at 5.0 against Idle Universe's 4.3. Planet Builder also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Idle Universe's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Universe sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Planet Builder sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Planet Builder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Idle Universe has 1.5K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Idle Universe ships an update every 3 weeks, Planet Builder every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Universe | Planet Builder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-builder-idle-evolution/id6744976926/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 65.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 297 MB | 705 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dominik Stallmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195110093) | [Olha Kolomiiets](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701258620) |

## 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


### Planet Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-builder-idle-evolution/id6744976926)

Create and evolve your own planets in this relaxing cosmic adventure. Gather resources, build diverse worlds, and discover quirky objects to bring your universe to life. Enjoy endless creative possibilities with upgrades and boosters.

**Highlights:** Planet creation and evolution, Resource gathering, Cosmic object collection, Planet upgrades and boosters, Idle gameplay, Universe building

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diamonds Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Diamonds Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $4.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Coins Booster | $9.99 | one-time |
| Diamonds Pack | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Universe free?

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

### Is Planet Builder free?

Planet Builder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Idle Universe or Planet Builder?

Planet Builder is rated higher. Idle Universe averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Planet Builder averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Idle Universe or Planet Builder have ads?

Both Idle Universe and Planet Builder show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Universe or Planet Builder?

Idle Universe ships an update every 3 weeks, and Planet Builder every 6 days. Most recently, Idle Universe was updated on October 15, 2026 and Planet Builder on October 6, 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.*