# Alchemy Shop vs Alchemy Lab

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Alchemy Shop at none against Alchemy Lab's 2. Alchemy Shop also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Alchemy Lab sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Alchemy Shop asks for nothing beyond the download.

Alchemy Shop ships an update every 8 days, Alchemy Lab weekly. The most recent releases landed on May 17, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alchemy Shop | Alchemy Lab |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alchemy-lab-elements/id6761089448/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Ad-supported |
| Size | 26 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Emre Kurubas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1798450686) | [Brandon Blaisdell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867047483) |

## What reviewers say

### Alchemy Shop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alchemy-shop/id6754257931)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Alchemy Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alchemy-lab-elements/id6761089448)

Combine elements like fire and water to discover new ones in this relaxing puzzle game. Experiment with over 60 elements and 100 recipes in a pressure-free environment. Unlock a hidden workshop and track your progress in a cozy creative space.

**Highlights:** Combine elements to discover new ones, Over 60 elements to uncover, 100+ recipes with multiple paths, Unlockable hidden workshop, Tinkerer's Journal for progress tracking, Ambient sound and gentle haptics

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra Workshop Slot | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alchemy Shop free?

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

### Is Alchemy Lab free?

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

### Do Alchemy Shop or Alchemy Lab have ads?

Both Alchemy Shop and Alchemy Lab show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alchemy Shop or Alchemy Lab?

Alchemy Shop ships an update every 8 days, and Alchemy Lab weekly. Most recently, Alchemy Shop was updated on May 17, 2026 and Alchemy Lab on September 8, 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.*