# Idle Stars vs Build Your Datacenter

The clearest difference is ads: Idle Stars at none against Build Your Datacenter's shown. Build Your Datacenter's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Stars sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Build Your Datacenter sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Idle Stars ships an update every 3 weeks, Build Your Datacenter weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Stars | Build Your Datacenter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-stars/id6804573898/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [PULSAR LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/485209178) | [Pax Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/6813644150) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Stars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-stars/id6804573898)

Build a star-spanning empire by managing resources, researching technologies, and colonizing new worlds. Engage in diplomacy or conflict with alien civilizations. Reset your universe with permanent upgrades to achieve greater progress each cycle.

**Highlights:** Layered idle economy with five resources, Research paths and automation, Galaxy map with exploration and colonization, Diplomacy and conflict with civilizations, Supernova resets with permanent progression, Offline progress and notifications

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-Hour Boost | $1.99 | one-time |
| Supporter Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Stellar Charter | $7.99 | one-time |


### Build Your Datacenter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-your-datacenter/id6813644148)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Pack | $3.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Traffic 1.5× | $4.99 | one-time |
| Staff Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| 10 Million Game Cash | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Stars free?

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

### Is Build Your Datacenter free?

Build Your Datacenter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Idle Stars or Build Your Datacenter have ads?

Build Your Datacenter shows ads; Idle Stars does not.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Stars or Build Your Datacenter?

Idle Stars ships an update every 3 weeks, and Build Your Datacenter weekly. Most recently, Idle Stars was updated on November 10, 2026 and Build Your Datacenter 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.*