# Evolution vs Idle evolution

The clearest difference is price: Idle evolution at Free against Evolution's $1.99. Idle evolution also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (5.8K vs 549). Evolution's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 22) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Idle evolution is free to download; Evolution costs $1.99 up front. Idle evolution sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Evolution asks for nothing beyond the download.

Idle evolution holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Idle evolution has 5.8K ratings behind it against 549, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Evolution's written reviews are positive against 75% of Idle evolution's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Evolution | Idle evolution |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (549 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/evolution-learning-creatures/id1227314223/reviews) | **[4.6 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-evolution-life-on-earth/id1484295610/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 549 | **5.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.6% of reviews** | 74.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#199** | — |
| Size | 67 MB | 330 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Keiwan Donyagard](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166607047) | [DoMobile Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/523576985) |

## What reviewers say

### Evolution

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/evolution-learning-creatures/id1227314223)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

Design and build unique creatures using joints, bones, and muscles. Witness their learning and improvement through evolutionary algorithms and neural networks as they tackle tasks like running, jumping, and flying. Share your creations with friends.

**Highlights:** Creature design with joints, bones, muscles, Neural network learning, Evolutionary algorithm improvement, Tasks: running, jumping, climbing, flying, Share simulation saves and creature designs, View source code

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🚀 Addictive and fun
- 💡 Interesting concept of AI-driven evolution
- 👍 Unique and creative
- 👍 Enjoyable to watch creatures evolve

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🐛 Creatures behave erratically
- 🐛 Difficulty creating functional creatures

**Reported bugs**

- Creatures re-appear after being deleted
- Horizontal distance not recorded properly
- Simulation screen turns white
- Creatures get stuck in a looping state

**Requested features**

- Add swimming and flying modes
- Ability to customize creature body parts
- Option to speed up or pause evolution
- Save and load creature designs
- More task types (e.g. grabbing, throwing)


### Idle evolution

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-evolution-life-on-earth/id1484295610)

Explore the 4-billion-year history of life on Earth through an engaging idle game. Learn about ancient creatures and human culture while restoring biological forms and unlocking evolutionary mysteries. Experience a blend of casual gameplay and educational content.

**Highlights:** Casual idle gameplay, Popular science education, Biological restoration, Intellectual equipment technology, Unlock mysteries of life, Experience life evolution

**In-app purchases (22)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Diamond X100 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Limit Gift 01 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sea.sale1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Energy output Permanent x2 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Silver Passport | $3.99 | one-time |
| Speed Gift 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Limit Gift 6 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Limit Gift 04 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sealimit.gift1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Humanlimit.gift1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Diamond X300 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Valued package | $5.99 | one-time |
| DNA output Permanent x2 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Sea.sale2 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Human.sale2 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Diamond X675 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Life Tree Gift 2 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Special golden passport | $11.99 | one-time |
| Golden Passport | $19.99 | one-time |
| Diamond X1500 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Sea.sale3 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and educational game
- 🚀 Engaging gameplay
- 💡 Interesting prehistoric creatures
- 👍 Informative and accurate content
- 💡 Rewards for answering questions instead of ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Unclear instructions
- 🔍 Confusing UI
- 🔍 Inaccurate creature descriptions
- 🔍 Slow progress after a certain point

**Reported bugs**

- Game not loading or crashing
- Incorrect resource deduction when purchasing items
- Ads not closing properly
- Saved progress not syncing across devices

**Requested features**

- More dinosaur and prehistoric creature models
- Improved tutorial and onboarding
- Ability to reset progress and start over
- More advanced gameplay modes
- Optimization for larger screens


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Evolution free?

Evolution costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Idle evolution free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Evolution or Idle evolution?

Idle evolution is rated higher. Evolution averages 4.4 out of 5 from 549 ratings, while Idle evolution averages 4.6 from 5.8K ratings.

### Do Evolution or Idle evolution have ads?

Idle evolution shows ads; Evolution does not.

### Which is updated more often, Evolution or Idle evolution?

Evolution ships an update every 2 months, and Idle evolution every 2 months. Most recently, Evolution was updated on October 14, 2026 and Idle evolution on October 9, 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.*