# Galaxy Map vs Solar System Simulation

The clearest difference is price: Galaxy Map at Free against Solar System Simulation's $5.99. Galaxy Map also leads on ratings volume (609 vs 1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). Solar System Simulation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Galaxy Map is free to download; Solar System Simulation costs $5.99 up front. Galaxy Map sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Solar System Simulation asks for nothing beyond the download.

Solar System Simulation holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Galaxy Map has 609 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Galaxy Map ships an update monthly, Solar System Simulation every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Galaxy Map | Solar System Simulation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (609 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-simulation-s3/id6475205482/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **609** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 79.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 601 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrei Nistorescu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1048905386) | [Taliyo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1582104523) |

## What reviewers say

### Galaxy Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456)

Explore the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies in an interactive 3D map. Discover nebulae, supernovae, and planets, with stunning visuals based on NASA data. Ideal for education and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D galaxy map, Explore nebulae and supernovae, Fly through planetary atmospheres, Land on planets, Based on NASA data, Available in 100+ languages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Dragon Frigate | $1.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle - SALE | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle - SALE | $4.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌌 Impressive 3D galaxy and nebula visualizations
- 🚀 Spaceship exploration feature with landing capability
- 📚 Educational content about space and astronomy
- 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay mechanics
- ✨ No ads in free version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall for most content
- 🐛 App crashes and fails to load
- 🎮 Poor control mechanics for flying and walking
- 🔍 Lack of zoom functionality or unclear controls
- 🌑 Black holes look too similar to each other

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Explore button shows nothing
- Pinch-to-zoom doesn't work
- App won't load on iPad
- Text displays as boxes in language settings

**Requested features**

- Search button to find galaxies and objects
- More diverse and realistic black hole designs
- AR feature to identify stars/planets in real sky
- More free content and objects
- Exoplanet additions (TRAPPIST-1e, J1407B)


### Solar System Simulation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-simulation-s3/id6475205482)

Explore the cosmos with interactive 3D models of planets and moons. Witness the dynamic interplay of gravitational forces through orbit simulations and gain educational insights into celestial bodies. Discover the beauty of our solar neighborhood in a new dimension.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D planet models, Orbit simulation, Educational insights, Zoom and rotate functionality, Detailed planet information

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Galaxy Map free?

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

### Is Solar System Simulation free?

Solar System Simulation costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Galaxy Map or Solar System Simulation?

Solar System Simulation is rated higher. Galaxy Map averages 4.6 out of 5 from 609 ratings, while Solar System Simulation averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Galaxy Map or Solar System Simulation have ads?

Galaxy Map shows ads; Solar System Simulation does not.

### Which is updated more often, Galaxy Map or Solar System Simulation?

Galaxy Map ships an update monthly, and Solar System Simulation every 5 months. Most recently, Galaxy Map was updated on October 12, 2026 and Solar System Simulation on October 10, 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.*