# Desert Golfing vs Idle Acorns

The clearest difference is monetization model: Idle Acorns at free against Desert Golfing's paid. Idle Acorns also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Desert Golfing's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 60%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Desert Golfing costs $1.99 and Idle Acorns $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Idle Acorns holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 649 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of Desert Golfing's written reviews are positive against 60% of Idle Acorns's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Desert Golfing ships an update every 2 weeks, Idle Acorns every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Desert Golfing | Idle Acorns |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (649 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desert-golfing/id902062673/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-acorns/id1552999208/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 649 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 60.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #98 | **#67** |
| Size | 2 MB | 149 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Captain Games Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1446968123) | [aleros.io LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552999210) |

## What reviewers say

### Desert Golfing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desert-golfing/id902062673)

**Currently charting:** #98 Top Paid · Sports (US App Store)

Experience an endless desert golf course with unique challenges.  Navigate sandy landscapes and discover new holes with every play.  This game offers a relaxing yet engaging golfing adventure.

**Highlights:** Infinite procedurally generated courses, Unique desert environments, Relaxing gameplay, Simple controls, Score tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Delightfully simple
- 🚀 Relaxing, soothing gameplay
- 🚀 Addictive and endlessly playable
- 👍 Perfect for passing time
- 👍 Minimalist design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Impossible holes due to level design
- 🐛 Lack of reset/restart option
- 🐛 Inconsistent ball behavior
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Repetitive and monotonous after a while

**Reported bugs**

- Certain holes are physically impossible to complete
- Ball behavior can be inconsistent and unpredictable
- Game freezes or crashes on some devices

**Requested features**

- Add a reset/restart option
- Introduce more varied obstacles and hazards
- Provide statistics and progress tracking
- Add support for syncing progress across devices
- Implement a night mode or color customization


### Idle Acorns

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-acorns/id1552999208)

**Currently charting:** #67 Top Paid · Casual, #139 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

A classic idle clicker game with a charming narrative. Explore diverse environments, gather resources, craft items, and play mini-games. Enjoy a pure, ad-free experience with no in-app purchases or data mining.

**Highlights:** Resource gathering and upgrades, Crafting over 24 items, Fishing and cooking mini-game, Gardening and tree growing, Campfire for inviting characters, iCloud backup support, Game Center integration

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Charming and relaxing
- 👍 No ads or in-app purchases
- 🎨 Pleasant aesthetics
- 🕹️ Satisfying gameplay loop
- 💰 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Slow progression and pacing
- 🔍 Unclear mechanics and lack of explanation
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔌 Limited offline progress
- 🔢 Inconsistent upgrade costs

**Reported bugs**

- Tree disappearing issue
- Bat not recognizing feather purchases
- Zoom and UI issues on certain devices
- Negative acorn balance after time manipulation

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More late-game content
- Improved UI and navigation
- Better explanation of game mechanics
- Increased offline progress


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Desert Golfing free?

Desert Golfing costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Idle Acorns free?

Idle Acorns costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Desert Golfing or Idle Acorns?

Idle Acorns is rated higher. Desert Golfing averages 4.6 out of 5 from 649 ratings, while Idle Acorns averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Desert Golfing or Idle Acorns have ads?

Neither Desert Golfing nor Idle Acorns shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Desert Golfing or Idle Acorns?

Desert Golfing ships an update every 2 weeks, and Idle Acorns every 6 weeks. Most recently, Desert Golfing was updated on September 25, 2026 and Idle Acorns on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Desert Golfing or Idle Acorns?

Desert Golfing currently peaks at #98 in the App Store charts, and Idle Acorns at #67. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*