Comparison

Explain 3D vs DIY Solar System

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Explain 3D

Explore the solar system and universe in a 3D environment with realistic models and animations. Learn about planets and spacecrafts, with an option to suggest new simulations. The free version offers basic solar system data, while the full version unlocks more celestial bodies and spacecrafts.

Highlights
  • Interactive 3D environment
  • Realistic 3D models and animations
  • Planet and spacecraft descriptions
  • Engaging educational content
  • Suggest simulation tool
  • Full version with expanded content
Features
Read full description

Explore the solar system and universe with simulations in 3D environment. With Explain3D: Explore the universe, you will have unique chance to explore solar system, planets and most famous spacecrafts in the history of world. Everything is created in amazing 3D environment with realistic 3D models. Start your journey now! FEATURES - interactive 3D environment with complex and realistic 3D models and animations - simple, intuitive, smooth and user friendly interface - description of main parts of planets and spacecrafts - great to make education more engaging and interesting - Want some special simulation? Use "Suggest simulation tool" and we will implement your ideas into application. Free version Real simulation of solar system with planet ecliptic orbits and main information about route, speed and other information. Planets: Sun Spacecrafts: Sputnik 1 FULL version Real simulation of solar system with planet ecliptic orbits and main information about route, speed and other information. Planets: Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune... Spacecrafts: Apollo, Cassini-Huygens, Galileo, Hubble space telescope, ISS, Pioneer, Sputnik, Vostok, Voyager...

About

DIY Solar System

Explore the solar system with interactive activities and an augmented reality planet walk. Learn about space travel, design a moon base, and identify celestial objects. Developed by leading science institutions, this app makes learning about space engaging for families and educators.

Highlights
  • Interactive space activities
  • Augmented reality planet walk
  • Design a moon base
  • Grow a space garden
  • Control a Mars rover
  • In or Out space game
  • NASA imagery
Features
Read full description

DIY Solar System makes it easy for families and educators to explore the solar system from anywhere, anytime! The app was developed by the Children’s Creativity Museum, Sciencenter, and Museum of Life and Science, in partnership with UC Berkeley’s The Lawrence Hall of Science. INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES DIY Solar System includes 11 easy-to-use activities to learn about space travel, living in space, and the unique objects that make up the planetary system we call home. Design a Moon base, grow your own space garden, or experience what it’s like to control a rover on Mars! Each activity includes step-by-step instructions that have been tested by educators, kids, and families. Activity materials are easily available and inexpensive—you may already have many of them in your home! AUGMENTED REALITY PLANET WALK Don’t have the time to travel several billion miles to reach Neptune? Try dropping a scale version of the solar system outside your home to start a walk that will show you planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids. At each stop, examine the space object up close using real images from NASA. Don’t forget to take a space selfie with your favorite planet! IN OR OUT GAME Quickly scan awe-inspiring images of space objects from NASA’s Earth and space observatories to decide if the objects are in or out of the solar system. While the solar system is vast, it only represents a tiny corner of the universe. After you have mastered your solar system knowledge, challenge yourself to a new round of objects in or out of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Funding Source This work was supported by NASA under award number 80NSSC21M0082. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs are those of the author and do not reflect the views of NASA. Compatibility Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone and iPad. Rated 4+.

Screenshots

Explain 3D3 screens
DIY Solar System4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DIY Solar System at 100% against Explain 3D's 0%. DIY Solar System also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Explain 3D's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Explain 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DIY Solar System asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DIY Solar System holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Explain 3D's written reviews are positive against 100% of DIY Solar System's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Explain 3D ships an update every 5 months, DIY Solar System every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Explain 3D versus DIY Solar System: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplain 3DDIY Solar System
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (7 ratings)4.5 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings717 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size205 MB180 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExplain 3DThe Lawrence Hall of Science

Customer experience

Explain 3D

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

DIY Solar System

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explain 3D

One-time1
  • Unlock all simulations$3.99
None

DIY Solar System

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explain 3D free?
Explain 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DIY Solar System free?
DIY Solar System is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Explain 3D or DIY Solar System?
DIY Solar System is rated higher. Explain 3D averages 2.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while DIY Solar System averages 4.5 from 17 ratings.
Do Explain 3D or DIY Solar System have ads?
Neither Explain 3D nor DIY Solar System shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Explain 3D or DIY Solar System?
Explain 3D ships an update every 5 months, and DIY Solar System every 2 months. Most recently, Explain 3D was updated on October 22, 2026 and DIY Solar System on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons