# Forge Ahead vs Smithing Master

The clearest difference is ads: Smithing Master at none against Forge Ahead's shown. Forge Ahead's advantage is ratings volume (85K vs 2.8K) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Forge Ahead sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Smithing Master sells 31 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 — 4.6 for Forge Ahead against 4.7 for Smithing Master. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Forge Ahead has 85K ratings behind it against 2.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Forge Ahead's written reviews are positive against 49% of Smithing Master's.

Forge Ahead ships an update monthly, Smithing Master every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forge Ahead | Smithing Master |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (85K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-ahead-be-a-blacksmith/id1485491919/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smithing-master/id6449953864/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **85K** | 2.8K |
| Positive reviews | 41.1% of reviews | **48.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 254 MB | 521 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Lion Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362220666) | [伟 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1403717237) |

## 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


### Smithing Master

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smithing-master/id6449953864)

Embark on an adventure as a legendary smithing master in a world threatened by monsters and the Seven Deadly Sins. Forge over a hundred types of equipment, enhance your anvil, and collect elves to aid you in battle. Engage in quests, competitions, and face world bosses in this casual RPG.

**Highlights:** Forge over 100 equipment types, Upgrade forging anvil, Collect and cultivate elves, Engage in quests and competitions, Battle world bosses, Casual, stress-free gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (31)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Activity Package | $0.99 | one-time |
| Package 18 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Package 19 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Package45 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Package57 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Package69 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Daily Value Pack3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Value Pack2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package 20 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package 25 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package46 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package52 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package82 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package112 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package106 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Card | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package94 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Value Pack3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package21 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package47 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package107 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package83 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package41 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Package59 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Eternal Card | $14.99 | one-time |
| Package 27 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Forge Token | $19.99 | one-time |
| Package54 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Package48 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Fun and easy to play
- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 💡 Interesting forging and crafting mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Aggressive monetization and pay-to-win elements
- 🔒 Login issues with Apple ID and Facebook
- 🔍 Lack of transparency in pricing and currency conversion
- 🔍 Slow progress and grindy mid-to-late game

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing or crashing on launch
- Gear appearance resetting after upgrades
- Anvil and forging features not working properly when the app is minimized

**Requested features**

- Ability to store and switch between multiple gear sets
- More ways to earn in-game currency without relying on ads or purchases
- Character customization options
- Better background support and reduced need to constantly reopen the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forge Ahead free?

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

### Is Smithing Master free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Forge Ahead or Smithing Master?

Smithing Master is rated higher. Forge Ahead averages 4.6 out of 5 from 85K ratings, while Smithing Master averages 4.7 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do Forge Ahead or Smithing Master have ads?

Forge Ahead shows ads; Smithing Master does not.

### Which is updated more often, Forge Ahead or Smithing Master?

Forge Ahead ships an update monthly, and Smithing Master every 3 weeks. Most recently, Forge Ahead was updated on October 3, 2026 and Smithing Master on October 3, 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.*