# Potion Permit vs Ex Astris

Potion Permit and Ex Astris both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of Ex Astris's written reviews are positive against 40% of Potion Permit's. Ex Astris also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Potion Permit's advantage is price ($6.99 vs $9.99). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Potion Permit costs $6.99 and Ex Astris $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Potion Permit against 4.4 for Ex Astris. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 519 and 267 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 40% of Potion Permit's written reviews are positive against 66% of Ex Astris's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Potion Permit | Ex Astris |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$6.99** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [4.4 (519 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/potion-permit/id6450713964/reviews) | [4.4 (267 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ex-astris/id6470642337/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **519** | 267 |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | **65.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#56** | #98 |
| Size | 477 MB | 3.7 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Playdigious](https://appshunter.io/developer/1041387229) | [GRYPH FRONTIER PTE.LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701568466) |

## What reviewers say

### Potion Permit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/potion-permit/id6450713964)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Paid · Role Playing, #114 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

Step into the role of a chemist tasked with healing a town that distrusts modern medicine. Diagnose illnesses, gather ingredients, and brew potions to cure the townsfolk. Build relationships, upgrade the town, and live the life of an apothecary in a charming, colorful world.

**Highlights:** Diagnose and cure illnesses, Gather ingredients and brew potions, Upgrade buildings and expand areas, Build relationships with townsfolk, Find love with a sweetheart, Team up with a loyal dog

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Great atmosphere and relaxing gameplay
- 👍 Cute and charming visuals
- 🎨 Enjoyable story and characters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 UI/UX problems on mobile devices
- ⏱️ Lack of frequent autosave

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to exit certain menus
- Fishing mini-game not functioning properly
- Potion quests not triggering correctly

**Requested features**

- Add more customization options for player character
- Implement a manual save feature
- Improve performance and reduce crashes


### Ex Astris

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ex-astris/id6470642337)

**Currently charting:** #98 Top Paid · Role Playing, #171 Top Paid · Adventure (US App Store)

Embark on an interstellar adventure as an investigator on a tidally locked planet. Explore diverse landscapes, engage in strategic turn-based combat with a unique maneuver system, and uncover the planet's mysteries with a team of companions.

**Highlights:** 3D Sci-Fi Adventure RPG, Semi-real-time, turn-based combat, Innovative Obscuran Maneuver system, World exploration on a tidally locked planet, Assemble and empower a team of companions, Crafting and puzzle-solving

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless combat system
- 🎨 Breathtaking graphics and art style
- 💰 Great value for a one-time purchase
- 🌟 Captivating story and world-building
- 🎮 Engaging turn-based gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Inconsistent audio/sound issues
- 📜 Unclear story and lore explanations
- 🕹️ Lack of controller support
- 🌐 Requires internet connection to play
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes at startup for some users
- Second fight cannot be progressed through
- Ziplines outside trade center are bugged
- Dialogue text pacing issues

**Requested features**

- Add controller support
- Improve story explanations and lore
- Implement offline play mode
- Add English voice-over option
- Provide more in-depth tutorial for combat


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Potion Permit free?

Potion Permit costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ex Astris free?

Ex Astris costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Potion Permit or Ex Astris?

Potion Permit and Ex Astris are both rated 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 519 and 267 ratings respectively.

### Do Potion Permit or Ex Astris have ads?

Neither Potion Permit nor Ex Astris shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Potion Permit or Ex Astris?

Potion Permit ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ex Astris every 3 weeks. Most recently, Potion Permit was updated on September 22, 2026 and Ex Astris on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Potion Permit or Ex Astris?

Potion Permit currently peaks at #56 in the App Store charts, and Ex Astris at #98. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*