# Idle Scratch vs Elemental Merge

The clearest difference is rating: Idle Scratch at 4.5 against Elemental Merge's 3.9. Idle Scratch also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). Elemental Merge's advantage is review sentiment (69% vs 54%). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Scratch sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Elemental Merge sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Idle Scratch holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 24 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Idle Scratch's written reviews are positive against 69% of Elemental Merge's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Idle Scratch ships an update every 3 days, Elemental Merge monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Scratch | Elemental Merge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-scratch-off/id1479952758/reviews)** | [3.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental-merge/id6741715769/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 23 | **24** |
| Positive reviews | 53.8% of reviews | **68.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 319 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Makopaz LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479952757) | [Bigyan Tripathi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1795227954) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Scratch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-scratch-off/id1479952758)

Engage in a virtual scratch-off experience where you earn points by revealing rewards. Invest in upgrades and explore new locations to boost your earnings, unlock automated features, and achieve prestige.

**Highlights:** Virtual scratch-off tickets, Earn points and rewards, Purchase upgrades, Unlock new stores, Automation features, Prestige system

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Donate for 3x Income | $1.99 | one-time |
| Donate for 3x Loyalty Points | $4.99 | one-time |
| Donate for More Icon Slots | $9.99 | one-time |
| More Store Income | $9.99 | one-time |


### Elemental Merge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental-merge/id6741715769)

This game lets you merge atoms to discover new elements and progress through the periodic table. Earn resources to upgrade production and unlock bonuses, offering a relaxing yet strategic science-inspired experience.

**Highlights:** Merge atoms to unlock new elements, Collect elements across the periodic table, Strategic upgrades with Particles, Anti-matter, Magic flasks, Relaxing chemistry game inspired by science, Long-term goal of reaching Element 118, Idle progression and discovery gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quick Boost 3 Hour | $0.99 | one-time |
| Faster Auto Merge! | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad Skipper V1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Permanent Booster V1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Quick Boost 12 Hour | $1.99 | one-time |
| Faster Auto Merge V2! | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ad Skipper V2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Quick Boost 1 Day | $2.99 | one-time |
| Faster Auto Merge V3! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Permanent Booster V3 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Permanent Booster V2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ad Skipper V3 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Disable all ads! | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Scratch free?

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

### Is Elemental Merge free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Idle Scratch or Elemental Merge?

Idle Scratch is rated higher. Idle Scratch averages 4.5 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Elemental Merge averages 3.9 from 24 ratings.

### Do Idle Scratch or Elemental Merge have ads?

Elemental Merge shows ads; Idle Scratch does not.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Scratch or Elemental Merge?

Idle Scratch ships an update every 3 days, and Elemental Merge monthly. Most recently, Idle Scratch was updated on October 24, 2026 and Elemental Merge on October 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*