# Idle Chest vs Shellkeep

The clearest difference is ads: Shellkeep at none against Idle Chest's shown. Shellkeep also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (91% vs 81%). Idle Chest's advantage is ratings volume (109 vs 30). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Chest sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Shellkeep sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shellkeep holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 109 and 30 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Idle Chest's written reviews are positive against 91% of Shellkeep's.

Idle Chest ships an update every 10 days, Shellkeep weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Chest | Shellkeep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-chest/id6744372975/reviews) | **[4.9 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellkeep-card-collector/id6757331713/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **109** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | 80.7% of reviews | **90.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 192 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Gunzburger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807389356) | [Hamlab AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526276751) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Chest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-chest/id6744372975)

Embark on a treasure-hunting adventure where every click earns rewards. Upgrade your skills, collect and enhance equipment, and unlock unique abilities. Discover the secrets of this world through engaging gameplay and an addictive incremental experience.

**Highlights:** Open various chests, Loot and upgrade equipment, Buy skill upgrades, Unlock unique skills, Discover game story

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Underwater Background Skin | $3.99 | one-time |
| Underwater Chests Skin | $3.99 | one-time |
| Underwater Acolytes Skin | $3.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| Underwater Complete Skins Pack | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun short idle clicker
- 👍 Consistent theme
- 👍 Enjoyable experience
- 👍 Minimalistic but rewarding grind
- 💰 Non-intrusive ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Game breaking bug with 'Chosen One' minion
- 🔍 Difficult to compare tap damage to acolyte damage
- 🔍 Some explanations could be improved
- 🔍 Slightly linear progression

**Reported bugs**

- Progress resets or reverts
- Minions not working after equipping 'Chosen One'

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Better UI for comparing damage sources


### Shellkeep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shellkeep-card-collector/id6757331713)

Collect, merge, and battle unique cards with thousands of possibilities. Hunt for ultra-rare holographic Shinies and compete with other players in live auctions and club bounties. Build your ultimate collection and test your luck.

**Highlights:** Generate and collect thousands of cards, Hunt for ultra-rare holographic Shinies, Bid, deal, and sell cards, Join clubs to team up with collectors, Compete in live auctions and daily deals, No advertisements

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quick Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| Big Gems | $6.99 | one-time |
| Mega Gems | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Chest free?

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

### Is Shellkeep free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Idle Chest or Shellkeep?

Shellkeep is rated higher. Idle Chest averages 4.5 out of 5 from 109 ratings, while Shellkeep averages 4.9 from 30 ratings.

### Do Idle Chest or Shellkeep have ads?

Idle Chest shows ads; Shellkeep does not.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Chest or Shellkeep?

Idle Chest ships an update every 10 days, and Shellkeep weekly. Most recently, Idle Chest was updated on September 28, 2026 and Shellkeep on September 26, 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.*