# Satellite Simulator vs Celestia

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Satellite Simulator at none against Celestia's 4. Satellite Simulator also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 16.0). Celestia's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Celestia sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Satellite Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Satellite Simulator ships an update every 6 weeks, Celestia fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Satellite Simulator | Celestia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (339 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **339** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 78.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 550 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jun Nishio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078551886) | [林峰 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1186547508) |

## What reviewers say

### Satellite Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-simulator/id1084123664)

Simulate artificial satellite orbits by adjusting firing direction and power. Tap the screen to launch satellites and observe their trajectories in this educational game.

**Highlights:** Simulate satellite orbits, Adjust firing direction, Control firing power, Tap to launch satellites, Observe various orbits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Celestia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829)

Explore the universe in real-time 3D. Visit planets, moons, star clusters, and galaxies, viewing them from any point in space and time. Customize your experience with expandable content and detailed simulations.

**Highlights:** Real-time 3D space visualization, Explore planets, moons, stars, galaxies, Accurate solar system object positions, Interactive planetarium mode, Expandable content with add-ons, Customizable celestial databases

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Celestia PLUS (Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Celestia PLUS (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Celestia PLUS (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Celestia PLUS (Lifetime) | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Realistic space simulation
- 🌌 Ability to explore galaxies and star systems
- 🔍 Detailed planet and moon textures
- 📷 Great for taking screenshots
- 🤖 Reminds users of Space Engine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🌌 Limited exploration beyond Milky Way and Andromeda
- 🌍 Flat terrain on planets
- 🔍 Lack of detail on some celestial objects
- 🔒 Paywall for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Milky Way and other galaxy textures not loading properly
- Crashes when using certain add-ons
- Issues with planet and moon orbits not being accurate

**Requested features**

- Add more exoplanets and distant star systems
- Implement terrain generation for planets
- Expand to include more galaxies and the overall universe structure
- Add support for black holes, pulsars, and other exotic objects
- Improve controls and camera movement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Satellite Simulator free?

Satellite Simulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Celestia free?

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

### Do Satellite Simulator or Celestia have ads?

Neither Satellite Simulator nor Celestia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Satellite Simulator or Celestia?

Satellite Simulator ships an update every 6 weeks, and Celestia fortnightly. Most recently, Satellite Simulator was updated on October 20, 2026 and Celestia on October 29, 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.*