# Idle Star Empire vs Craft World Builder

The clearest difference is rating: Craft World Builder at 4.7 against Idle Star Empire's 3.8. Craft World Builder also leads on ratings volume (969 vs 4). Idle Star Empire's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 55%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Star Empire sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and Craft World Builder sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Craft World Builder holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Craft World Builder has 969 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Idle Star Empire's written reviews are positive against 55% of Craft World Builder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Idle Star Empire ships an update every 2 weeks, Craft World Builder every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Star Empire | Craft World Builder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-star-empire/id6450506347/reviews) | **[4.7 (969 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/craft-world-builder/id6469102709/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **969** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 55.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 228 MB | 341 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Frederic Nagler](https://appshunter.io/developer/1693577034) | [VOYA Games GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711551786) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Star Empire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-star-empire/id6450506347)

Become an intergalactic conqueror in this idle space exploration game. Gather resources, upgrade your fleet, research technologies, and conquer new planets. Forge alliances or wage war to build the most powerful empire in the galaxy.

**Highlights:** Idle resource gathering, Spaceship fleet management, Technology research, Planet exploration, Diplomacy and conquest, Empire building

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Medium Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Supporter Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Timewarp Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Tournament Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Terraformer Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Big Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| No Ads for 365 Days | $12.99 | one-time |
| Explorer Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| No Ads Forever | $34.99 | one-time |
| Giant Pack | $49.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Pack | $99.99 | one-time |


### Craft World Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/craft-world-builder/id6469102709)

Dinosaurs rebuild the world after a meteor strike by crafting, automating, and building complex structures. Manage resources, research new technologies, and design your own empire. Collaborate with others and personalize your creations in this strategic adventure.

**Highlights:** Masterful crafting and automation, Build and expand your empire, Research new materials and technologies, Strategic resource management, Collaborate and share blueprints, Establish energy hubs, Decorate and personalize your domain

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

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RAWR Crystal XS | $0.99 | one-time |
| Offer | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ice | $2.99 | one-time |
| Offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Event Masterpiece Battle Pass | $3.99 | one-time |
| Masterpiece Battle Pass | $3.99 | one-time |
| RAWR Crystal S | $4.99 | one-time |
| Trade Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Offer | $6.99 | one-time |
| Offer | $8.99 | one-time |
| RAWR Crystal M | $8.99 | one-time |
| Season Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pro Account | $11.99 | one-time |
| Offer | $12.99 | one-time |
| Crystal Pass | $15.99 | one-time |
| Offer | $17.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $19.99 | one-time |
| RAWR Crystal L | $22.99 | one-time |
| RAWR Crystal XL | $49.99 | one-time |
| Offer | $69.99 | one-time |
| RAWR Crystal XXL | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and smooth gameplay
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay loop
- 💎 Unique and innovative game concept
- 👍 Visually appealing graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
- ⏱️ Slow progress and long wait times
- 🔑 Unclear mechanics and lack of tutorials
- 💰 Concerns about monetization and pay-to-win elements

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in or create an account
- Loss of progress and saved data
- Unresponsive or freezing gameplay
- Incorrect or missing in-game information

**Requested features**

- More in-depth tutorials and explanations
- Improved server stability and reduced connection problems
- Faster progression and reduced waiting times
- Clearer communication from developers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Star Empire free?

Idle Star Empire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Craft World Builder free?

Craft World Builder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Idle Star Empire or Craft World Builder?

Craft World Builder is rated higher. Idle Star Empire averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Craft World Builder averages 4.7 from 969 ratings.

### Do Idle Star Empire or Craft World Builder have ads?

Both Idle Star Empire and Craft World Builder show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Star Empire or Craft World Builder?

Idle Star Empire ships an update every 2 weeks, and Craft World Builder every 10 days. Most recently, Idle Star Empire was updated on October 24, 2026 and Craft World Builder 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.*