# Cookie Empire vs Elemental Sands

The clearest difference is ads: Cookie Empire at none against Elemental Sands's shown. Cookie Empire also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 44%) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). Elemental Sands's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cookie Empire sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Elemental Sands sells 31 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Cookie Empire holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cookie Empire has 640 ratings behind it against 68, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Cookie Empire's written reviews are positive against 44% of Elemental Sands's.

Cookie Empire ships an update weekly, Elemental Sands every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cookie Empire | Elemental Sands |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (640 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cookie-empire-idle-clicker/id6471402254/reviews)** | [4.2 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental-sands/id6474100439/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **640** | 68 |
| Positive reviews | **68.3% of reviews** | 44.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 57 MB | 215 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alejandro Jimenez Rico](https://appshunter.io/developer/1638610472) | [TapTide Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711698136) |

## What reviewers say

### Cookie Empire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cookie-empire-idle-clicker/id6471402254)

Click to bake cookies, automate production, and grow your empire in this idle incremental game. Explore minigames, uncover cryptic lore, and ascend to unlock powerful boosts. Features include offline progress, complex synergies, and a unique grandma sacrifice mechanic.

**Highlights:** Incremental cookie baking, Automation and complex synergies, Offline progress, Multiple minigames (Farming, Stock Market, Lucky Wheel, Tile Matching), Ascension/Prestige mechanics, Grandma sacrifice to demons, Public leaderboards

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mini Gem Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 53 Wings | $0.99 | one-time |
| Magic Cookie | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gems 1.2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Gems Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Permanent Boost | $1.99 | one-time |
| Time Warp | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gems Small Pack 2 | $3.99 | one-time |
| No-Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Gems Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gems Mid Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Seasonal Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Big Gems Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Larger Gems Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Largest Gems Pack | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun Little Idle Game
- 👍 THIS is how iOS games should be
- 👍 Great game, no ads
- 👍 Anxiety Relief
- 👍 Quality game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Offline progress locked
- 🐛 Putting the main idle mechanic behind an ad
- 🔋 High battery drain
- 🐛 Wasted Potential
- 🐛 Losing progress

**Reported bugs**

- Offline progress not working
- Ascension issues
- Alchemy lab not working
- Upgrades not appearing
- Crashes after updates

**Requested features**

- Add backbone please
- More audio suggestions
- Ability to see vegetables in the garden
- Volleyball skin
- Achievements


### Elemental Sands

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental-sands/id6474100439)

Build and automate a magical business empire in a fantasy world. Harness elemental powers to boost production and profits, collect rare items, and expand your reach to become a legendary CEO. This idle clicker game blends strategy with enchanting visuals.

**Highlights:** Build and automate business empire, Harness elemental power for production, Collect magical items and abilities, Increase company valuation and profits, Explore a fantasy world, Strategic management gameplay

**In-app purchases (31)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 24 Gold | $0.99 | one-time |
| Study Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Enduring Study Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Volatile Study Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Scorching Study Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| The Water Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| High Tide Event Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Energy Surge Event Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| The Vitality Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifeblood Event Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Auto Buy | $4.99 | one-time |
| The Strength Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Heavy Hitters Event Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| The Nature Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Wild Growth Event Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| The Electric Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| No Ads Boost | $4.99 | one-time |
| 135 Gold | $4.99 | one-time |
| 310 Gold | $9.99 | one-time |
| Research Bundle | $12.99 | one-time |
| Volatile Research Bundle | $12.99 | one-time |
| Enduring Research Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Scorching Research Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |
| Volatile Proficiency Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| 740 Gold | $24.99 | one-time |
| Enduring Proficiency Bundle | $29.99 | one-time |
| Scorching Proficiency Bundle | $29.99 | one-time |
| Mastery Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |
| Scorching Mastery Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |
| Volatile Mastery Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |
| 5200 Gold | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cookie Empire free?

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

### Is Elemental Sands free?

Elemental Sands is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Cookie Empire or Elemental Sands?

Cookie Empire is rated higher. Cookie Empire averages 4.5 out of 5 from 640 ratings, while Elemental Sands averages 4.2 from 68 ratings.

### Do Cookie Empire or Elemental Sands have ads?

Elemental Sands shows ads; Cookie Empire does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cookie Empire or Elemental Sands?

Cookie Empire ships an update weekly, and Elemental Sands every 3 weeks. Most recently, Cookie Empire was updated on September 22, 2026 and Elemental Sands on September 20, 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.*