# Star Command vs Fade

The clearest difference is price: Fade at Free against Star Command's $2.99. Fade also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0). Star Command's advantage is ratings volume (910 vs 1) and chart position (#110 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Fade is free to download; Star Command costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Fade holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Command has 910 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Star Command ships an update every 10 days, Fade every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Command | Fade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (910 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-command/id632079234/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fade-duel-arena/id6759893797/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **910** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#110** | — |
| Size | 101 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Star Command, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/632079238) | [Checkmate Labs, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873813767) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Command

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-command/id632079234)

**Currently charting:** #110 Top Paid · Strategy, #115 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

Command your own starship, recruit and level up your crew, and explore a vast universe. Engage in tactical combat, manage ship roles, and make decisions that impact your journey through space.

**Highlights:** Build and command your starship, Hire and level up crew members, Explore the universe, Defend against alien civilizations, Tactical combat and ship management, Multiple ship hull choices, Discover alien species

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Amazing game
- 🚀 Fun and challenging gameplay
- 🚀 Great music and visuals
- 👍 No in-app purchases
- 👍 Replayability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🐛 UI issues (e.g. buttons off-screen)
- 🔍 Short story/content
- 🔍 Repetitive gameplay
- 🔍 Lack of updates/new content

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on startup
- Crew members getting stuck or lost
- Weapons/UI elements disappearing
- Progression/save data issues

**Requested features**

- More ships, rooms, and customization options
- Expanded story and missions
- Multiplayer and co-op modes
- Ability to board enemy ships
- Improved crew management and AI


### Fade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fade-duel-arena/id6759893797)

Engage in skill-based 3D medieval knight duels where you strategically allocate stats and wager gold. Outthink opponents in intense battles to climb the global leaderboard and customize your knight's heraldry.

**Highlights:** Skill-based 3D duels, Stat allocation for Attack, Strength, Defense, Real-time gold wagering, Shield heraldry customization, Global Hall of Knights leaderboard, Instant jump-in, no signup

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Star Command free?

Star Command costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Fade free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Star Command or Fade?

Fade is rated higher. Star Command averages 4.0 out of 5 from 910 ratings, while Fade averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Star Command or Fade have ads?

Neither Star Command nor Fade shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Star Command or Fade?

Star Command ships an update every 10 days, and Fade every 2 weeks. Most recently, Star Command was updated on November 1, 2026 and Fade on October 31, 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.*