# Idle Island Builder vs Astro Builder

Idle Island Builder and Astro Builder both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 49% of Idle Island Builder's written reviews are positive against 35% of Astro Builder's. Idle Island Builder also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 11 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Island Builder sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Astro Builder sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Idle Island Builder against 4.7 for Astro Builder. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.6K and 3.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of Idle Island Builder's written reviews are positive against 35% of Astro Builder's.

Idle Island Builder ships an update every 5 months, Astro Builder every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Island Builder | Astro Builder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-island-builder/id6670468867/reviews)** | [4.7 (3.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-builder/id6737761200/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.6K** | 3.4K |
| Positive reviews | **48.6% of reviews** | 34.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 280 MB | 251 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solid Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625798412) | [Solid Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625798412) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Island Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-island-builder/id6670468867)

Build your dream island paradise from the sea. Reclaim land, cultivate lush landscapes with trees, and construct magnificent buildings to create a vibrant, living island. Enjoy tranquil ocean beauty and unleash your creativity in this captivating idle game.

**Highlights:** Reclaim land from the sea, Craft lush green landscapes, Construct magnificent buildings, Create a bustling island, Intuitive idle gameplay, Tranquil ocean beauty

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diamond Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| No Ads Lite | $4.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| No Ads MAX | $9.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 4 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 5 | $44.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 6 | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and entertaining
- 👍 Easy to start
- 👍 Good game detail
- 👍 Ability to make own island

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Too many forced ads
- 🚫 Ads after every 20 seconds
- 🚫 Ads interrupt gameplay
- 🐛 Trucks keep glitching

**Reported bugs**

- Trucks keep glitching

**Requested features**

- Reduce number of ads
- Add option to remove ads


### Astro Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-builder/id6737761200)

Build a sprawling space station in orbit with this idle construction game. Start with basic components and expand your facility by unlocking new equipment and generating resources. Discover and develop new areas as your station grows.

**Highlights:** Idle space station construction, Resource management, Unlock new equipment, Expand and develop areas, Space elevator material transport

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AD TICKETS 10 | $0.99 | one-time |
| AD TICKETS 25 | $1.99 | one-time |
| AD TICKETS 60 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ad-free 7 day | $4.99 | one-time |
| Permanent ad-free! | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun game concept
- 👍 Detailed space station building
- 💡 Customizable astronaut suits

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy AI and builder behavior
- 🔇 Lack of sound and music
- 🔁 Repetitive and monotonous gameplay
- 🔒 Forced ads and limited free content
- ⏱️ Slow progress without watching ads

**Reported bugs**

- Builders getting stuck or ignoring resource needs
- Inconsistent behavior when collecting from processors
- Permanent worker upgrades not functioning properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to continue progress offline
- More varied level designs and challenges
- Autonomous builder behavior
- Background progress while app is closed


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Island Builder free?

Idle Island Builder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Astro Builder free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Idle Island Builder or Astro Builder?

Idle Island Builder is rated higher. Idle Island Builder averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Astro Builder averages 4.7 from 3.4K ratings.

### Do Idle Island Builder or Astro Builder have ads?

Both Idle Island Builder and Astro Builder show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Island Builder or Astro Builder?

Idle Island Builder ships an update every 5 months, and Astro Builder every 11 months. Most recently, Idle Island Builder was updated on October 28, 2026 and Astro Builder on October 28, 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.*