Comparison

Idle Expedition vs Equate 8

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Idle Expedition

This idle/clicker game offers pure gameplay with no ads or in-app purchases. Manage resources, upgrade your hero's traits and attributes, and send them on expeditions to gather rare currency and unlock your true potential.

Highlights
  • No ads or in-app purchases
  • Clicker gameplay for Gold and EXP
  • Idle expeditions for loot and Insight
  • Trait and attribute progression system
  • Chill soundtrack
  • Trophy and achievement tracking
Features
Read full description

Idle Expedition proudly features NO ADS and IN-APP PURCHASES. EVER. Idle Expedition is a more traditional take on the idle/clicker genre — The main twist, it's a free mobile game with absolutely no ads and no in-app purchases. Just pure gameplay. Take control of your adventure with three core screens, four traits, four attributes, and three currencies: Gold, Experience, and Insight. Camp (Clicker Gameplay) Tap for Gold or EXP in two modes. Spend Gold to upgrade your tools, upgrade your backpack, and brew powerful potions. Your Camp is your grind hub — satisfying, and always rewarding. Expedition (Idle Gameplay) Send your hero on real-time expeditions, progress from quick outings to hour-long journeys. Enhance your chances using traits like Luck, Endurance, and Perception. Expeditions are the only way to earn Insight, a rare currency that fuels long-term growth and unlocks your true potential - you simply need it... Main Menu (Strategy & Progression) Upgrade four traits and four attributes with EXP to enhance both active and idle play. Every few levels, you’ll hit an Insight Wall, which balances progression between active and idle play. Manage your backpack, view your storage, track progress, and view trophies/achievements! Bonus: Features music by @VGM_Central on YouTube. Check out his channel! Idle Expedition is brought to you by a 2-person team of brothers who believe that playing a game should not be interrupted by Ads and should not nickel and dime its players. Highlights: No ads. No IAPs. Ever. Click for Gold or EXP in the Camp Run idle expeditions for Gold, EXP, loot and Insight Trait and attribute system with real gameplay impact Chill soundtrack and a vibe that respects your time Download Idle Expedition and take your time. Your journey awaits — no strings attached. We hope you enjoy the game as much as we enjoyed making it!

About

Equate 8

This math puzzle game challenges players to rearrange numbers in a 3x3 grid to solve eight equations simultaneously. It offers escalating difficulty, medals for efficiency, and a daily puzzle for free play. The game also serves as an educational tool, with features for educators to design custom levels.

Highlights
  • Magic square reimagining
  • Balance eight equations
  • Multiple operators
  • Escalating difficulty levels
  • Medals for efficiency
  • Daily puzzle
  • Snap Mode for assistance
Features
Read full description

Equate 8 is a bold reimagining of the classic magic square—an innovative, addictive math puzzle featured at New York City’s Museum of Mathematics. Players rearrange numbers in a 3×3 grid to balance eight equations at once (three rows, three columns, two diagonals), racing to solve the puzzle in the fewest moves. With multiple operators, escalating difficulty levels, and medals awarded for efficiency, Equate 8 is as rewarding as it is challenging. Equate 8 is the sequel to our Webby-nominated game The Devil’s Calculator, named one of PAX’s 10 Best Indie Games of 2019. Disguised as a casual mobile game, Equate 8 is a powerful interactive learning tool. Our talk will explore the sophisticated math behind the project and debut a new feature allowing educators to design levels aligned with their curricula. With its blend of pedagogical depth, intuitive design, and playful challenge, Equate 8 shows how games can transform math education. It empowers students, supports teachers, and makes math feel like play. Solving the grid in fewer moves will gain a silver or gold medal, but a bronze is awarded regardless, so don't stress. The daily puzzle gives players a free way to play and unlock content. Acquire “streaks” tokens by playing regularly. Exchange medals and streaks for Challenges, packs of themed puzzles. If the squares seem too complicated, open the menu to try Snap Mode. A number will automatically be locked (circled) when in the correct place. This mode can be played in a limited number of sequences before it reverts to the default. Donate to our nonprofit for access to unlimited difficulty levels.Equate 8 is a fun casual game for all ages, whether practicing math skills or engaging brainpower. Donations support the mission of Cinq-Mars Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to develop educational games, always provided free to teachers and students.

Screenshots

Idle Expedition4 screens
Equate 84 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Equate 8 at 4.6 against Idle Expedition's 3.9. Equate 8 also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 61%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). Idle Expedition's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Equate 8 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Idle Expedition asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Equate 8 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of Idle Expedition's written reviews are positive against 80% of Equate 8's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Idle Expedition ships an update every 5 days, Equate 8 weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Idle Expedition versus Equate 8: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIdle ExpeditionEquate 8
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (34 ratings)4.6 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.9% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB18 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperPixel Balloon LLCCinq-Mars Media

Customer experience

Idle Expedition

All ratings32 ratings
Positive65.6%
Neutral15.6%
Negative18.8%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive60.9%
Neutral13.0%
Negative26.1%

Equate 8

All ratings14 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

None

Idle Expedition

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Equate 8

One-time1
  • Endless Levels!$2.99

Questions

Is Idle Expedition free?
Idle Expedition is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Equate 8 free?
Equate 8 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Idle Expedition or Equate 8?
Equate 8 is rated higher. Idle Expedition averages 3.9 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Equate 8 averages 4.6 from 14 ratings.
Do Idle Expedition or Equate 8 have ads?
Neither Idle Expedition nor Equate 8 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Idle Expedition or Equate 8?
Idle Expedition ships an update every 5 days, and Equate 8 weekly. Most recently, Idle Expedition was updated on October 24, 2026 and Equate 8 on October 24, 2026.

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