# Triple Lab vs Idle Rune Foundry

The clearest difference is monetization model: Idle Rune Foundry at free against Triple Lab's free with in-app purchases. Idle Rune Foundry also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Triple Lab's advantage is ratings volume (136 vs 1) and device support. On price, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Triple Lab sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Rune Foundry sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Idle Rune Foundry holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Triple Lab has 136 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Triple Lab ships an update every 3 weeks, Idle Rune Foundry every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Triple Lab | Idle Rune Foundry |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/triple-lab/id583527629/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-rune-foundry/id6762006920/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **136** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 94.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 38 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | — |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [戈 杜](https://appshunter.io/developer/502468695) | [Michael Eakins](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890494224) |

## What reviewers say

### Triple Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/triple-lab/id583527629)

Combine mystical species in a biochemistry lab to create new life forms. Grow plants to absorb waste and discover creatures from different geological eras. Use magical liquids and mushrooms to guide evolution.

**Highlights:** Create unique species, Combine and evolve creatures, Grow plants to absorb waste, Discover historical species, Use magical evolution aids

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 魔钻1000 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 700 Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| 魔钻2,200 | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1600 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| 无限能量 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Endless energy | $5.99 | one-time |
| 魔钻13000 | $8.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Gems | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 🧠 Challenging and strategic
- 🎨 Interesting and creative concept
- 🕹️ Enjoyable time-waster

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Limited energy/moves
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🤔 Unclear instructions/tutorials

**Reported bugs**

- Game resets progress after updates
- In-app purchases not always successful
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Unlimited energy/moves option
- More detailed gameplay instructions
- Ability to save progress across devices
- Additional game modes or levels


### Idle Rune Foundry

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-rune-foundry/id6762006920)

Forge mystical runes by tapping and building an army of automated workers. Upgrade your forge, enchant items, and prestige for permanent power. Earn resources even while offline.

**Highlights:** Tap-to-forge gameplay with critical strikes, Automated rune production with various worker types, Deep upgrade and enchanting systems, Prestige system for permanent progression, Offline earnings and progression, Customizable forge skins, Offline play supported

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pouch of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Gems | $3.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Hoard | $6.99 | one-time |
| Vault of Gems | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Triple Lab free?

Triple Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Idle Rune Foundry free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Triple Lab or Idle Rune Foundry?

Idle Rune Foundry is rated higher. Triple Lab averages 4.7 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Idle Rune Foundry averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Which is updated more often, Triple Lab or Idle Rune Foundry?

Triple Lab ships an update every 3 weeks, and Idle Rune Foundry every 2 weeks. Most recently, Triple Lab was updated on October 21, 2026 and Idle Rune Foundry on October 25, 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.*