# Idle Mage Academy vs Alchemist's Engine

The clearest difference is rating: Alchemist's Engine at 5.0 against Idle Mage Academy's 4.0. Alchemist's Engine also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (17 vs 4). Idle Mage Academy's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Alchemist's Engine holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 17 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Idle Mage Academy ships an update every 2 months, Alchemist's Engine every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Mage Academy | Alchemist's Engine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-mage-academy/id6781848358/reviews) | **[5.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alchemists-engine/id6804922440/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **17** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 150 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.7 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [SONGHWA CHAE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896751262) | [Just Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6804922442) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Mage Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-mage-academy/id6781848358)

Rise from a failing student to a legendary archmage through idle training and strategic growth. Your spells and rewards accumulate even when you're offline. Progress through the academy, unlock new abilities, and compete globally.

**Highlights:** Idle growth and offline rewards, Webnovel-style narrative, Unlock new spells and dungeons, Library research for permanent buffs, Duel Club for tactical combat, Rebirth system for endless progression, Global online ranking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Alchemist's Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alchemists-engine/id6804922440)

Tend to a dormant engine in a ruined world by gathering fuel, crafting resources, and researching upgrades. Forge golems to assist in your tasks as you explore a labyrinthine mine and uncover a forgotten story.

**Highlights:** Feed and stoke the engine, Merge sparks on an alchemical table, Forge and upgrade golems, Research forgotten techniques, Explore a seeded labyrinth, Unravel the story

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Mage Academy free?

Idle Mage Academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Alchemist's Engine free?

Alchemist's Engine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Idle Mage Academy or Alchemist's Engine?

Alchemist's Engine is rated higher. Idle Mage Academy averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Alchemist's Engine averages 5.0 from 17 ratings.

### Do Idle Mage Academy or Alchemist's Engine have ads?

Both Idle Mage Academy and Alchemist's Engine show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Mage Academy or Alchemist's Engine?

Idle Mage Academy ships an update every 2 months, and Alchemist's Engine every 4 days. Most recently, Idle Mage Academy was updated on October 31, 2026 and Alchemist's Engine 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.*