# Star Vector vs Space Commander

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Star Vector at none against Space Commander's 13. Star Vector also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 15.0). Space Commander's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (173 vs 44). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Space Commander sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Star Vector asks for nothing beyond the download.

Space Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 173 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Star Vector's written reviews are positive against 66% of Space Commander's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Star Vector ships an update every 2 months, Space Commander every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Vector | Space Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-vector/id916413230/reviews) | **[4.1 (173 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-commander-war-and-trade/id1524627432/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 44 | **173** |
| Positive reviews | **73.8% of reviews** | 65.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 206 MB | 283 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Third Wire Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/598114913) | [Teresa Dymek](https://appshunter.io/developer/1108488686) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Vector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-vector/id916413230)

Engage in thrilling 3D space combat on your mobile device. Pilot your starfighter using intuitive tilt controls to battle pirates and aliens across a randomly generated universe. Progress through levels, unlock new spacecraft, and upgrade your abilities to face increasingly challenging enemies.

**Highlights:** 3D space combat, Tilt sensor controls, Randomly generated universe, Unlockable spacecraft, Level progression, Increasing enemy difficulty

**In-app purchases:** none


### Space Commander

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-commander-war-and-trade/id1524627432)

Pilot a customizable fleet in a vast galaxy, engaging in combat, trade, and exploration. Choose your career path as a mercenary, trader, or pirate, and build your own space empire. Experience deep mechanics and diverse campaigns for endless adventure.

**Highlights:** Fleet customization and upgrades, Multiple career paths (mercenary, trader, pirate), Deep economy and trade systems, Galaxy exploration with generated star systems, Diverse campaigns and mission editor, Commander skill progression

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Advertisements | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1000 credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| 3000 credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| 30 ship parts | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock B-3 Apocalypse | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Mamba | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock I-9 Eagle | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock T16 Rex | $1.99 | one-time |
| 6000 credits | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock G-4 Gidorah | $2.99 | one-time |
| 20 000 credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 50 000 credits | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mega Pack | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great gameplay
- 👍 Customizable ships
- 🚀 Smooth controls
- 👍 Offline playability
- 🚀 Impressive graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 💰 Microtransactions and paywalls
- 🔒 Limited control options (no controller support)
- 🕹️ Clunky controls on mobile
- 🕰️ Slow progression without paying

**Reported bugs**

- Merchant missions not recognized when docked, leading to lost cargo and reputation
- Inability to edit game on mobile devices

**Requested features**

- Add larger capital ships for players to own and command
- Implement an auto-trading feature to manage supply lines
- Allow players to declare war, conquer stations, and build their own faction
- Enable colonization of planets and building of stations outside the home system
- Provide the ability to control multiple fleets simultaneously


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Star Vector free?

Star Vector is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Space Commander free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Star Vector or Space Commander?

Space Commander is rated higher. Star Vector averages 3.7 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Space Commander averages 4.1 from 173 ratings.

### Do Star Vector or Space Commander have ads?

Space Commander shows ads; Star Vector does not.

### Which is updated more often, Star Vector or Space Commander?

Star Vector ships an update every 2 months, and Space Commander every 4 months. Most recently, Star Vector was updated on October 26, 2026 and Space Commander on October 27, 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.*