# Gliders by Design vs Orbital Simulator

The clearest difference is price: Orbital Simulator at Free against Gliders by Design's $4.99. Orbital Simulator also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 30 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Gliders by Design's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On rating, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Orbital Simulator is free to download; Gliders by Design costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Gliders by Design against 5.0 for Orbital Simulator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively.

Gliders by Design ships an update every 30 months, Orbital Simulator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gliders by Design | Orbital Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gliders-by-design/id1191116900/reviews) | [5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbital-simulator-explorer/id6511195732/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 30 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 31 MB | 247 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Seeds Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/507836260) | [Renzo Macedo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1403943580) |

## What reviewers say

### Gliders by Design

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gliders-by-design/id1191116900)

Design and build your own handheld gliders using your iPad or Mac. This application provides authentic glider analyses and predictions, empowering users to learn about flight through hands-on creation. It's a rewarding way to explore aerodynamics and engineering principles.

**Highlights:** Handheld glider design, Authentic glider analysis, Flight predictions, Build and fly custom designs, STEM learning tool, School success

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Orbital Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbital-simulator-explorer/id6511195732)

Explore orbital mechanics through interactive simulations and real-time solar system data. Learn about Kepler's Laws, practice orbital maneuvers, and engage in mission objectives. Ideal for students and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Interactive orbital simulations, Kepler's Laws visualization, Orbital maneuver practice, Real-time solar system view, Customizable orbital parameters, Detailed educational content, Mission-based challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gliders by Design free?

Gliders by Design costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Orbital Simulator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Gliders by Design or Orbital Simulator?

Gliders by Design and Orbital Simulator are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 6 ratings respectively.

### Do Gliders by Design or Orbital Simulator have ads?

Orbital Simulator shows ads; Gliders by Design does not.

### Which is updated more often, Gliders by Design or Orbital Simulator?

Gliders by Design ships an update every 30 months, and Orbital Simulator fortnightly. Most recently, Gliders by Design was updated on October 9, 2026 and Orbital Simulator on October 22, 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.*