# Idle Universe vs Tribulation Runner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tribulation Runner at none against Idle Universe's 7. Tribulation Runner also leads on ads (none vs shown). Idle Universe's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Idle Universe ships an update every 3 weeks, Tribulation Runner every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Universe | Tribulation Runner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 297 MB | 178 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dominik Stallmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195110093) | [Ebrahim Shaikh](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777837308) |

## 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


### Tribulation Runner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tribulation-runner/id6778214443)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Universe free?

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

### Is Tribulation Runner free?

Tribulation Runner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Idle Universe or Tribulation Runner have ads?

Idle Universe shows ads; Tribulation Runner does not.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Universe or Tribulation Runner?

Idle Universe ships an update every 3 weeks, and Tribulation Runner every 6 weeks. Most recently, Idle Universe was updated on October 26, 2026 and Tribulation Runner on October 16, 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.*