# PlanetBuilder vs Space Expansion

The clearest difference is price: Space Expansion at Free against PlanetBuilder's $0.99. Space Expansion also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 26 months) and ratings volume (21 vs 7). PlanetBuilder's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (71% vs 60%). On rating, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Space Expansion is free to download; PlanetBuilder costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Space Expansion holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 21 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of PlanetBuilder's written reviews are positive against 60% of Space Expansion's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PlanetBuilder ships an update every 26 months, Space Expansion every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PlanetBuilder | Space Expansion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planetbuilder/id547202735/reviews) | **[4.3 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-expansion-idle-clicker/id6749261582/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **21** |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 90 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Strange Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/547202738) | [Tobias Ehret](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829643087) |

## What reviewers say

### PlanetBuilder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planetbuilder/id547202735)

Shape cosmic debris into a living planet, bending gravity to your will. Defend your creation from deadly debris and hostile alien forces as life evolves and civilization rises.

**Highlights:** Shape cosmic debris into a planet, Bend gravity to manipulate your world, Defend against cosmic debris and alien forces, Witness life evolve and civilization rise, Adapt to challenges as your world grows

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Space Expansion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-expansion-idle-clicker/id6749261582)

Build and expand a galactic empire by tapping to gather resources, automating production, and exploring new worlds. This idle clicker offers deep progression with clean visuals, perfect for both short breaks and long play sessions.

**Highlights:** Tap to collect resources, Automate production, Upgrade planets, Explore new worlds, Global leaderboard

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PlanetBuilder free?

PlanetBuilder costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Space Expansion free?

Space Expansion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PlanetBuilder or Space Expansion?

Space Expansion is rated higher. PlanetBuilder averages 4.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Space Expansion averages 4.3 from 21 ratings.

### Do PlanetBuilder or Space Expansion have ads?

Space Expansion shows ads; PlanetBuilder does not.

### Which is updated more often, PlanetBuilder or Space Expansion?

PlanetBuilder ships an update every 26 months, and Space Expansion every 10 days. Most recently, PlanetBuilder was updated on November 1, 2026 and Space Expansion on October 30, 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.*