# Space Borders vs Space Pixel Swarm

The clearest difference is price: Space Pixel Swarm at Free against Space Borders's $1.99. Space Pixel Swarm also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). Space Borders's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (167 vs 21). On rating, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Space Pixel Swarm is free to download; Space Borders costs $1.99 up front. Space Borders sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Space Pixel Swarm sells 3 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 Space Borders against 4.6 for Space Pixel Swarm. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Space Borders has 167 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Space Borders's written reviews are positive against 82% of Space Pixel Swarm's.

Space Borders ships an update every 2 months, Space Pixel Swarm every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Space Borders | Space Pixel Swarm |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (167 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-borders-alien-encounter/id490625226/reviews)** | [4.6 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-pixel-swarm/id1611870560/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **167** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | **90.9% of reviews** | 81.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 166 MB | 218 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.5** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Amasis Brauch](https://appshunter.io/developer/490625369) | [David Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1611870562) |

## What reviewers say

### Space Borders

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-borders-alien-encounter/id490625226)

Command a fleet of starships in a real-time strategy war against hostile aliens. Build your armada, harvest resources, and use tactical formations and superweapons to protect Earth and its colonies from annihilation.

**Highlights:** Real-time strategy gameplay, Build and customize fleet (15 ship types), Resource harvesting and upgrades, Tactical ship formations, Superweapons and special powers, Campaign, Survival, and Sandbox modes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Conquest Mode | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Excellent RTS gameplay mechanics
- 💰 No pay-to-win or microtransactions
- 🎨 Charming 2D graphics and visual style
- ⚙️ Deep fleet customization options
- 📱 Works smoothly on older devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes during missions
- 💾 No save/checkpoint system for long missions
- 🎨 Cartoony graphics in newer versions
- 🤖 Poor AI behavior
- ⏱️ Missions are very long without breaks

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes mid-mission with no progress recovery
- Save file corruption and rollback after updates
- Mission failure without clear cause or visibility
- Resource disappearance between campaign episodes
- Harvester ships launching into enemy fire

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer or online gameplay
- Sequel or major expansion
- Additional campaign missions and episodes
- More ship types and varieties
- More turret and weapon options


### Space Pixel Swarm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-pixel-swarm/id1611870560)

Engage in an offline, single-player 2D space real-time strategy game. Overcome overwhelming odds by making difficult strategic choices, sacrificing planets to bolster your fleet, or fortifying your defenses. Enjoy diverse units, configurable AI, and a unique desperation mechanic.

**Highlights:** Offline single-player RTS, Procedural skirmish mode, Configurable swarm AI, Desperation mechanic: lost planets fuel forces, 29 campaign levels, Diverse unit types, Multiple enemy variations

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy 20 Merits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Merits | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Space Borders free?

Space Borders costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Space Pixel Swarm free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Space Borders or Space Pixel Swarm?

Space Borders is rated higher. Space Borders averages 4.7 out of 5 from 167 ratings, while Space Pixel Swarm averages 4.6 from 21 ratings.

### Do Space Borders or Space Pixel Swarm have ads?

Space Pixel Swarm shows ads; Space Borders does not.

### Which is updated more often, Space Borders or Space Pixel Swarm?

Space Borders ships an update every 2 months, and Space Pixel Swarm every 4 days. Most recently, Space Borders was updated on October 23, 2026 and Space Pixel Swarm on October 23, 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.*