# Forge Ahead vs Idle Lumberjack 2

Forge Ahead and Idle Lumberjack 2 both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 41% of Forge Ahead's written reviews are positive against 30% of Idle Lumberjack 2's. Forge Ahead also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Forge Ahead sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Lumberjack 2 sells 10 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 — 4.6 for Forge Ahead against 4.6 for Idle Lumberjack 2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 85K and 77K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Forge Ahead's written reviews are positive against 30% of Idle Lumberjack 2's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forge Ahead | Idle Lumberjack 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (85K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-ahead-be-a-blacksmith/id1485491919/reviews) | **[4.6 (77K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-lumberjack-2/id1504115108/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **85K** | 77K |
| Positive reviews | **41.1% of reviews** | 29.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 254 MB | 229 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Lion Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362220666) | [Playphoria ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1659387707) |

## What reviewers say

### Forge Ahead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-ahead-be-a-blacksmith/id1485491919)

Mine exotic metals and precious gems, then hammer them into beautifully crafted swords. Run your own armory to display your creations and earn money to unlock even better materials and designs. Enjoy addictive gameplay that lets you earn even when offline.

**Highlights:** Mine exotic metals and gems, Hammer molten metal into swords, Run your own armory, Unlock new materials and designs, Earn money offline, Addictive tap-based mechanics

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tier 1 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Upgrade Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tier 2 Coins | $6.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Tier 3 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Satisfying forging process
- 🚀 Casual time-killer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of clarity on ore values
- 🔍 Repetitive and limited gameplay
- 💸 Excessive ads and monetization
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to store/save forged swords
- Customers not appearing consistently

**Requested features**

- More ore/material variety and selection
- Additional weapon types beyond swords
- Ability to discard unwanted ores
- More detailed progression and upgrades
- Improved customer/quest system


### Idle Lumberjack 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-lumberjack-2/id1504115108)

Chop down various trees, sell the lumber, and purchase upgrades to enhance your operations. Discover rare golden trees for bonus rewards and ensure you return to sell wood for rapid progression. Enjoy this engaging idle game experience.

**Highlights:** Chop various tree types, Sell lumber for currency, Purchase upgrades, Discover golden trees, Fast-paced progression, Idle gameplay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wizard's Powers | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Wizard's Powers | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Gold(Discount) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Seeds (Discount) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coins (Discount) | $1.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gold | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bonus | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Seeds | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Satisfying gameplay
- 💤 Calming and relaxing
- 🦊 Enjoyable pet feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔥 Excessive ads
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay
- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Limited customization

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing and progress loss
- Glitches with power-ups and upgrades
- Inconsistent tree chopping mechanics

**Requested features**

- More progression and new content
- Offline progress tracking
- Character customization options
- Reduce ad frequency


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forge Ahead free?

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

### Is Idle Lumberjack 2 free?

Idle Lumberjack 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Forge Ahead or Idle Lumberjack 2?

Idle Lumberjack 2 is rated higher. Forge Ahead averages 4.6 out of 5 from 85K ratings, while Idle Lumberjack 2 averages 4.6 from 77K ratings.

### Do Forge Ahead or Idle Lumberjack 2 have ads?

Both Forge Ahead and Idle Lumberjack 2 show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Forge Ahead or Idle Lumberjack 2?

Forge Ahead ships an update monthly, and Idle Lumberjack 2 monthly. Most recently, Forge Ahead was updated on November 2, 2026 and Idle Lumberjack 2 on November 2, 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.*