# Elemental Sands vs CivRise

The clearest difference is rating: Elemental Sands at 4.2 against CivRise's 3.3. Elemental Sands also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 33%). CivRise's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elemental Sands sells 31 one-off in-app purchases and CivRise sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Elemental Sands holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 69 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Elemental Sands's written reviews are positive against 33% of CivRise's.

Elemental Sands ships an update every 3 weeks, CivRise weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elemental Sands | CivRise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (69 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elemental-sands/id6474100439/reviews)** | [3.3 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/civrise/id6743421437/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **69** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | **44.1% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 222 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TapTide Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711698136) | [kadir ozden](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474543449) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Refreshing free-to-play model
- 🎶 Excellent soundtrack
- 👍 Unique currency system
- 👍 Enjoyable idle gameplay
- 👍 Good aesthetic and art style

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐢 Drastic slowdown in progression
- 📉 Slow early game progression
- 📉 Progression feels stagnant
- 📉 Lack of rewarding progression
- 📉 Very slow and lacking features

**Reported bugs**

- Progress lost twice due to account issues
- App fails to load (tuning transmission frequencies)
- Updates bricked progress
- New patch reset sand capacity and spawn rate
- Game is locked with question marks on start

**Requested features**

- Convert excess sand to vials offline
- Increase level cap
- More content and end goals
- Formal suggestion channel (Discord)
- More mechanics in future updates


### CivRise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/civrise/id6743421437)

Guide your civilization through the ages, expanding knowledge, constructing wonders, and commanding armies. Recruit historical figures and build a lasting heritage with strategic idle gameplay and offline progress.

**Highlights:** Resource management and knowledge advancement, Construct legendary wonders, Command powerful armies, Recruit historical figures, Persistent heritage system, Offline progress

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1000 gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| 200 gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| 5000 gems | $3.99 | one-time |
| one month leader pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| 10000 gems | $7.99 | one-time |
| one month leader plus pass | $7.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2000 gems | $14.99 | one-time |
| 50000 gems | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elemental Sands free?

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

### Is CivRise free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Elemental Sands or CivRise?

Elemental Sands is rated higher. Elemental Sands averages 4.2 out of 5 from 69 ratings, while CivRise averages 3.3 from 24 ratings.

### Do Elemental Sands or CivRise have ads?

Both Elemental Sands and CivRise show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elemental Sands or CivRise?

Elemental Sands ships an update every 3 weeks, and CivRise weekly. Most recently, Elemental Sands was updated on October 25, 2026 and CivRise on October 21, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*