# Astro Builder vs Rowan!

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rowan! at none against Astro Builder's 5. Rowan! also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Astro Builder sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Rowan! asks for nothing beyond the download.

Astro Builder ships an update every 11 months, Rowan! every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astro Builder | Rowan! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-builder/id6737761200/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 34.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 251 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solid Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625798412) | [ROSE METAL PRODUCTS, INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526085087) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Rowan!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rowan/id6746802223)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astro Builder free?

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

### Is Rowan! free?

Rowan! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Astro Builder or Rowan! have ads?

Both Astro Builder and Rowan! show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astro Builder or Rowan!?

Astro Builder ships an update every 11 months, and Rowan! every 3 days. Most recently, Astro Builder was updated on October 19, 2026 and Rowan! on October 10, 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.*