# Space Salvager vs Alchemist's Engine

The clearest difference is update cadence: Alchemist's Engine at every 4 days against Space Salvager's every 6 weeks. Alchemist's Engine also leads on ratings volume (17 vs 1) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). Space Salvager's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Space Salvager against 5.0 for Alchemist's Engine. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Alchemist's Engine has 17 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Space Salvager ships an update every 6 weeks, Alchemist's Engine every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Space Salvager | Alchemist's Engine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-salvager/id6796608459/reviews) | [5.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alchemists-engine/id6804922440/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **17** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 55 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.7 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Mason Moran](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782451337) | [Just Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6804922442) |

## What reviewers say

### Space Salvager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-salvager/id6796608459)

Pilot a salvage tug to derelict ships, cutting free valuable parts while the structure crumbles around you. Race against rivals and manage your greed to get home with your haul, or risk losing everything.

**Highlights:** Push-your-luck gameplay, Salvage derelict ships, Rival salvager encounters, Multiple ship types, Collectible personal effects, Daily seeded wrecks

**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 Space Salvager free?

Space Salvager 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, Space Salvager or Alchemist's Engine?

Space Salvager and Alchemist's Engine are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 17 ratings respectively.

### Do Space Salvager or Alchemist's Engine have ads?

Both Space Salvager and Alchemist's Engine show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Space Salvager or Alchemist's Engine?

Space Salvager ships an update every 6 weeks, and Alchemist's Engine every 4 days. Most recently, Space Salvager was updated on October 31, 2026 and Alchemist's Engine 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.*