# Galactic Empire Idle vs Nova

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nova at none against Galactic Empire Idle's 1. Galactic Empire Idle's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Galactic Empire Idle sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Galactic Empire Idle against 5.0 for Nova. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively.

Galactic Empire Idle ships an update every 3 days, Nova weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Galactic Empire Idle | Nova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galactic-empire-idle/id6766610523/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-space-strategy-game/id6780326157/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 83 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MATTHEW JOEL SPERRY](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896307353) | [Kevin Gilpin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804481222) |

## What reviewers say

### Galactic Empire Idle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galactic-empire-idle/id6766610523)

Build and expand your galactic empire by creating energy and colonizing planets. Purchase upgrades to accelerate progress and unlock new combat capabilities. Engage in 100 levels of solar system combat with 10 distinct ship types.

**Highlights:** Empire building, Planet colonization, Energy creation, Purchasable upgrades, Solar system combat, Unique ship types

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Activate Hyperdrive | $1.99 | one-time |


### Nova

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-space-strategy-game/id6780326157)

Command a star fleet in a real-time galactic conquest game. Engage in strategic battles, forge binding diplomatic contracts, and manage your empire efficiently. Play at your own pace, from quick sprints to long campaigns, with background notifications keeping you informed.

**Highlights:** Real-time galactic conquest, Binding diplomatic contracts, Fog of war for strategic depth, Customizable game pace and duration, Background notifications, Map editor for custom galaxies

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Galactic Empire Idle free?

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

### Is Nova free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Galactic Empire Idle or Nova?

Galactic Empire Idle and Nova are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do Galactic Empire Idle or Nova have ads?

Neither Galactic Empire Idle nor Nova shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Galactic Empire Idle or Nova?

Galactic Empire Idle ships an update every 3 days, and Nova weekly. Most recently, Galactic Empire Idle was updated on October 31, 2026 and Nova on October 31, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*