Encyclopedia vs Orbits
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Encyclopedia
Explore the solar system with extensive articles and high-definition images. This app offers comprehensive information, engaging content, and a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for both children and adults interested in space.
- Thousands of articles and HD photos
- Comprehensive solar system information
- Engaging and easy-to-understand content
- Offline availability
- Badge collection for reading
- Intuitive user interface
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Travel through our celestial neighborhood in 386 illustrated articles on the Sun, planets, moons, smaller bodies and the history of solar-system exploration. START WITH FIVE FREE ARTICLES New readers can choose any five different articles. Your chosen articles stay unlocked, and revisiting them never uses another choice. Existing readers keep previously granted access. MAKE DISCOVERIES YOUR OWN • Search article titles and full text • Follow links between related topics • Save articles and return to your reading position • Continue recent reading and track your progress • Explore connections through the timeline and graph • Find article sources and image credits inside the app CHOOSE YOUR ACCESS Own the full encyclopedia with a one-time purchase for complete offline reading. Or choose monthly or annual Premium for the full encyclopedia plus AI chat grounded in this subject's articles. Eligible new Premium subscribers receive a three-day introductory trial. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled through your App Store account. Current local prices and terms appear before purchase. Restore Purchases recovers eligible previous purchases. Earlier full-version ownership includes encyclopedia and offline access; Premium AI requires a subscription. Internet access is required for AI chat and purchases. AI answers may contain errors; consult the linked sources. Article text is derived from Wikipedia. Images come from appropriately licensed Wikimedia Commons and other open sources. Source links, licenses and credits are available in the app. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Orbits
Explore planets and moons in stunning detail with high-resolution 3D maps and images. Access comprehensive scientific data on geology and orbits, alongside in-depth articles and curated resources for a complete understanding of our solar system.
- 3D high-resolution planet and moon maps
- Detailed geology and orbit information
- High-resolution images with captions
- In-depth articles on planets and moons
- Curated external information sources
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View the planets in incredible detail with Orbits. This app serves not only as a statistical reference with information about geology and orbit, but also a visual guide with pictures of the planets and their moons. Orbits also provides lengthy curated articles and links to other sources of information about planets and their moons. Features: - 3D, high resolution maps of the planets and their moons - Detailed scientific information about the geology and orbit of the planets - Curated, high resolution images and captions to see planets up close - Detailed articles for every planet and moon in the solar system
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Orbits at 4.6 against Encyclopedia's 3.8. Orbits also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). 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. Encyclopedia sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Orbits asks for nothing beyond the download.
Orbits holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 7 respectively.
Encyclopedia ships an update monthly, Orbits every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Encyclopedia | Orbits |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (14 ratings) | 4.6 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 weeks — 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 | 15.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 322 MB | 251 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Good Spider, LLC | Brandon Slaght |
Customer experience
Encyclopedia
Orbits
In-app purchases
Encyclopedia
- Full Version$2.99
Orbits
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Encyclopedia free?
Is Orbits free?
Which has better reviews, Encyclopedia or Orbits?
Do Encyclopedia or Orbits have ads?
Which is updated more often, Encyclopedia or Orbits?
Other comparisons
