# SpaceShard vs Idle Archaeologist

The clearest difference is rating: SpaceShard at 5.0 against Idle Archaeologist's 1.0. SpaceShard also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). Idle Archaeologist's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.5). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Archaeologist sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. SpaceShard asks for nothing beyond the download.

SpaceShard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

SpaceShard ships an update every 5 months, Idle Archaeologist every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpaceShard | Idle Archaeologist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceshard/id6751738288/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-archaeologist/id6767026123/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Paul Hall](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836545613) | [GOKHAN OGUZ](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893621626) |

## What reviewers say

### SpaceShard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceshard/id6751738288)

Navigate procedurally generated mazes, collecting shards to increase your score and unlock upgrades. Compete in time-based multiplayer matches and customize your spacesuit. Climb leaderboards and unlock achievements.

**Highlights:** Endless procedural mazes, Time-based multiplayer matches, Achievements and milestones, Spacesuit customization, Global leaderboards

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Idle Archaeologist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-archaeologist/id6767026123)

Excavate historical sites, restore artifacts, and build a museum that earns gold even when offline. Attract patrons and unlock new eras as you become a renowned armchair archaeologist.

**Highlights:** Excavate hundreds of artifacts, Restore items at the workshop, Build and display in your museum, Earn idle gold offline, Travel to famous historical sites, Unlock new historical eras, Collect historical artifact data

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Expedition Pass | $3.99 | per month |
| Patron Pass | $5.99 | per month |
| Pouch of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Quiet Museum | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Vault of Gems | $19.99 | one-time |
| Hoard of Gems | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpaceShard free?

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

### Is Idle Archaeologist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SpaceShard or Idle Archaeologist?

SpaceShard is rated higher. SpaceShard averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Idle Archaeologist averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SpaceShard or Idle Archaeologist have ads?

Idle Archaeologist shows ads; SpaceShard does not.

### Which is updated more often, SpaceShard or Idle Archaeologist?

SpaceShard ships an update every 5 months, and Idle Archaeologist every 6 months. Most recently, SpaceShard was updated on November 5, 2026 and Idle Archaeologist on October 31, 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.*