# ZeroVector vs Stellar Mercenaries

The clearest difference is update cadence: Stellar Mercenaries at every 3 weeks against ZeroVector's every 4 months. ZeroVector's advantage is ratings volume (145 vs 38) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ZeroVector sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Stellar Mercenaries sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for ZeroVector against 4.8 for Stellar Mercenaries. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 145 and 38 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of ZeroVector's written reviews are positive against 86% of Stellar Mercenaries's.

ZeroVector ships an update every 4 months, Stellar Mercenaries every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZeroVector | Stellar Mercenaries |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (145 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zerovector/id1247351265/reviews) | **[4.8 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellar-mercenaries/id6446969323/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **145** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | **91.7% of reviews** | 85.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 198 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [blackpawn.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/321096618) | [Quest Builders LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1679888919) |

## What reviewers say

### ZeroVector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zerovector/id1247351265)

Experience an endless retro arcade vertical shoot 'em up with challenging boss battles and power-up stacking. Utilize a unique REVERSAL ability to flip enemy bullets into missiles. Compete in multiplayer Conquest mode to capture sectors for your faction.

**Highlights:** Endless waves of enemies, Four unique boss battles, Collectible power-ups and upgrades, Stackable shields and EMP, REVERSAL ability to flip bullets, Multiplayer Conquest mode, Faction-based sector control

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy blackpawn a taco | $0.99 | one-time |


### Stellar Mercenaries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellar-mercenaries/id6446969323)

Engage in offline, vertical scrolling arcade action with this sci-fi RPG. Upgrade your ship, weapons, and abilities to battle rival mercenaries and conquer the solar system. Enjoy endless procedurally generated missions with diverse objectives and challenges.

**Highlights:** Vertical scrolling arcade shooter, Offline capable gameplay, Upgradable ships and weapons, Customizable loadouts, Procedurally generated missions, Rival mercenary system

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Currency - Small Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack - Basic | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack - Small | $2.99 | one-time |
| Currency - Medium Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Stater Pack - Advanced | $5.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack - Medium | $7.99 | one-time |
| Currency - Large Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack - Large | $15.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack - Legendary | $15.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZeroVector free?

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

### Is Stellar Mercenaries free?

Stellar Mercenaries is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ZeroVector or Stellar Mercenaries?

Stellar Mercenaries is rated higher. ZeroVector averages 4.7 out of 5 from 145 ratings, while Stellar Mercenaries averages 4.8 from 38 ratings.

### Do ZeroVector or Stellar Mercenaries have ads?

Neither ZeroVector nor Stellar Mercenaries shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ZeroVector or Stellar Mercenaries?

ZeroVector ships an update every 4 months, and Stellar Mercenaries every 3 weeks. Most recently, ZeroVector was updated on October 20, 2026 and Stellar Mercenaries 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.*