# Swarm Simulator vs Merge Empire

The clearest difference is ads: Merge Empire at none against Swarm Simulator's shown. Merge Empire also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). Swarm Simulator's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 50%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swarm Simulator sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Merge Empire sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. 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 Swarm Simulator against 4.6 for Merge Empire. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.7K and 3.7K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Swarm Simulator's written reviews are positive against 50% of Merge Empire's.

Swarm Simulator ships an update every 9 days, Merge Empire every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swarm Simulator | Merge Empire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swarm-simulator-evolution/id1320056680/reviews)** | [4.6 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-empire/id1452103346/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.7K | **3.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.3% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 158 MB | 219 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Iron Horse Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281721366) | [Digital Melody](https://appshunter.io/developer/1572958184) |

## What reviewers say

### Swarm Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swarm-simulator-evolution/id1320056680)

Evolve your insect colony from simple larvae to powerful hive minds in this 3D incremental idle clicker game. Conquer territory, sacrifice units for growth, and ascend to unlock new mutations and expand your swarm across the universe.

**Highlights:** Incremental idle clicker gameplay, Endless progression and unit evolution, Idle mode for offline growth, Ascend system with new mutations, All-new 3D graphics and units, Elixir buffs and Golden Bug bonuses

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pouch of Crystals | $4.99 | one-time |
| Elixir Mega Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Swarm Supporter Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Crystals | $9.99 | one-time |
| Crystalline King Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Arcane Amplifier Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Super Shards Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Challenge Crusher Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Crystals | $19.99 | one-time |
| Elixir Ultra Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Storehouse of Crystals | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 💡 Unique incremental mechanics
- 🔒 Minimal ads, not intrusive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in recent updates
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Stuck on loading screen
- Incorrect display of resources and upgrades
- Issues with cloud save functionality

**Requested features**

- More content and updates
- Offline mode
- Customization options
- Improved progression and endgame


### Merge Empire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-empire/id1452103346)

Build and expand a vast empire by merging workers to invent new crafts and progress through different historical eras. Conquer new worlds, from oceans to modern cities, and become a ruler of an overcrowded domain. Enjoy idle gameplay with passive income and engaging challenges.

**Highlights:** Merge and invent new crafts, Progress through different eras, Conquer new worlds and enemies, Idle clicker gameplay with passive income, Special heroes and boosters, Attack other players, Spin Wheel for bonuses

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merge Empire VIP Membership | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 20 Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50 Diamonds | $1.99 | one-time |
| 100 Diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Diamonds | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast gameplay
- 👍 Engaging merging mechanics
- 💡 Unique game concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔋 High ad frequency
- 💰 Expensive VIP subscription
- 🕰️ Short game length

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect reward amounts
- Merging issues
- Leaderboard display problems
- Freezing and performance issues

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Improved leaderboard functionality
- Mute button for audio
- Prestige or progression system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swarm Simulator free?

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

### Is Merge Empire free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Swarm Simulator or Merge Empire?

Swarm Simulator is rated higher. Swarm Simulator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while Merge Empire averages 4.6 from 3.7K ratings.

### Do Swarm Simulator or Merge Empire have ads?

Swarm Simulator shows ads; Merge Empire does not.

### Which is updated more often, Swarm Simulator or Merge Empire?

Swarm Simulator ships an update every 9 days, and Merge Empire every 2 weeks. Most recently, Swarm Simulator was updated on September 29, 2026 and Merge Empire on September 5, 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.*