Epoch Core vs Sandbox Planet
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Epoch Core
Explore procedurally generated, earth-like planets with ambient music. Designed for relaxation, this app offers a unique visual and auditory experience. Requires newer iOS devices for full graphical features.
- Procedural planet generation
- Earth-like planet exploration
- Ambient music
- Relaxing experience
- Full graphic features on newer devices
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Epoch Core, formerly known as "Lonely Planet Tech Demo" generates planets with its procedural algorithm. You can explore every planet that is earth-like with ambient music and relax. -------- To fully enable graphic features in Epoch Core, please use iPhone 6 / iPad Air 2 or newer generation of iOS devices. Old devices may not be supported.
Sandbox Planet
Create and customize your own solar systems and planets. Emulate the development of the universe with highly detailed simulation tools. Build any celestial body you can imagine.
- Solar system simulation
- Planet building
- Universe emulation
- Customizable creation
- Celestial body design
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Simulate real solar system Emulate universe develop, build any planet you want. Highly customizable, bulid your own solar system.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Sandbox Planet at 4.5 against Epoch Core's 3.8. Sandbox Planet also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (303 vs 5). Epoch Core's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Sandbox Planet sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Epoch Core asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sandbox Planet holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sandbox Planet has 303 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Epoch Core's written reviews are positive against 52% of Sandbox Planet's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Epoch Core ships an update every 18 months, Sandbox Planet every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Epoch Core | Sandbox Planet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (5 ratings) | 4.5 (303 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 51.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 303 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 162 MB | 119 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 昊天 郑 | Oscar Tsang |
Customer experience
Epoch Core
Sandbox Planet
Bugs and requests
Epoch Core
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Sandbox Planet
Reported bugs
8 issues- Advertisements have non-functional close buttons
- App crashes frequently
- Video ads for currency don't load
- Bug with GP conversion where it decreases
- Daytime interface is too bright
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- Some options do not charge GP as expected
- In-app purchases are confusing
- Black hole physics seem off
Requested features
7 requests- Random planets and stars should spawn
- Add currency earning methods
- Allow naming of planets
- Add more content
- Make the game harder
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- Add more slots for creations
- Provide instructions or tutorials
In-app purchases
Epoch Core
No in-app purchases
Sandbox Planet
- 5000 GP$1.99
- Remove Ad$2.99
- 25000 GP$5.99
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- 50000 GP$9.99
- 120000 GP$19.99
- 200000 GP$29.99
Questions
Is Epoch Core free?
Is Sandbox Planet free?
Which has better reviews, Epoch Core or Sandbox Planet?
Do Epoch Core or Sandbox Planet have ads?
Which is updated more often, Epoch Core or Sandbox Planet?
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