# CivCrafter vs Idle Universe

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CivCrafter at 89% against Idle Universe's 65%. CivCrafter also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (6K vs 1.5K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CivCrafter sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Universe sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CivCrafter holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6K and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of CivCrafter's written reviews are positive against 65% of Idle Universe's.

CivCrafter ships an update every 5 weeks, Idle Universe every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CivCrafter | Idle Universe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/civcrafter/id894778729/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | 1.5K |
| Positive reviews | **89.3% of reviews** | 65.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 179 MB | 299 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naquatic](https://appshunter.io/developer/300409424) | [Dominik Stallmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195110093) |

## What reviewers say

### CivCrafter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/civcrafter/id894778729)

Build a thriving kingdom with simple taps. Gather resources, raise an army, and engage in battles to conquer the world. Shape your legacy as a just or ruthless leader.

**Highlights:** Kingdom building, Resource gathering, Army building, Clan battles, World supremacy, Benevolent or tyrant ruler

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trade Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stack of Gold | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pile of Gold | $4.99 | one-time |
| Goblet of Gold | $19.99 | one-time |
| Crown of Gold | $49.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Gold | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 💡 Unique civilization management mechanics
- 👍 Great time-killer game
- 👍 Relaxing and enjoyable experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow progression and long wait times
- 💰 Aggressive monetization with ads and in-app purchases
- 🔋 Resources not collected when app is closed

**Reported bugs**

- Conquest rewards not working correctly
- Training troops not always successful
- Compatibility issues on certain devices
- Persistent audio issues after ads

**Requested features**

- Offline resource collection
- More frequent updates and new content
- Better clan/multiplayer features
- Improved tutorial and onboarding
- Customization options (e.g., skins, themes)


### Idle Universe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094)

Tap to gather matter and create interstellar objects, from particles to galaxies. Objects automatically generate more matter, allowing for endless universe expansion. Unlock divine powers, upgrade objects, and utilize special abilities to grow your cosmic creation.

**Highlights:** Create 31 interstellar objects, Unlock 24 Divine Powers, Upgrade objects with multiple options, Obtain Dark Matter for special abilities, Gain Antimatter via prestige for permanent upgrades, Compete on leaderboards, Earn daily rewards and achievements

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 250 Dark Matter | $3.99 | one-time |
| Double Antimatter Gains | $4.99 | one-time |
| +100% Transcendence Exp | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove All Ads | $8.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Dark Matter | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Dark Matter | $24.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Dark Matter | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Organized and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient progression system
- 💡 Unique and engaging concept
- 🎨 Good graphics and visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔋 Slow progress without watching ads
- 🤖 Forced Google account login
- 🔍 Unclear game mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Prestige button not working
- Ads not providing expected rewards
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Incorrect offline progress tracking

**Requested features**

- Offline progress tracking
- More prestige layers and upgrades
- Better optimization for larger screens
- Improved tutorial and explanations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CivCrafter free?

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

### Is Idle Universe free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CivCrafter or Idle Universe?

CivCrafter is rated higher. CivCrafter averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6K ratings, while Idle Universe averages 4.3 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do CivCrafter or Idle Universe have ads?

Both CivCrafter and Idle Universe show ads.

### Which is updated more often, CivCrafter or Idle Universe?

CivCrafter ships an update every 5 weeks, and Idle Universe every 3 weeks. Most recently, CivCrafter was updated on November 4, 2026 and Idle Universe on November 2, 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.*