Explain 3D vs DIY Solar System
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Interactive 3D environment
- Realistic 3D models and animations
- Planet and spacecraft descriptions
- Engaging educational content
- Suggest simulation tool
- Full version with expanded content
Read full descriptionHide 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...
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Explain 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DIY Solar System asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Explain 3D | DIY Solar System |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (7 ratings) | 4.5 (17 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 17 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 205 MB | 180 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Explain 3D | The Lawrence Hall of Science |
Customer experience
Explain 3D
DIY Solar System
In-app purchases
Explain 3D
- Unlock all simulations$3.99
DIY Solar System
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Explain 3D free?
Is DIY Solar System free?
Which has better reviews, Explain 3D or DIY Solar System?
Do Explain 3D or DIY Solar System have ads?
Which is updated more often, Explain 3D or DIY Solar System?
Other comparisons















