# Orbits vs Pocket Planets

The clearest difference is ads: Orbits at none against Pocket Planets's shown. Orbits also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). Pocket Planets's advantage is ratings volume (22 vs 7). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Orbits against 4.6 for Pocket Planets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 22 respectively.

Orbits ships an update every 2 weeks, Pocket Planets every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Orbits | Pocket Planets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbits-a-planet-tracker/id1220543514/reviews) | [4.6 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-planets/id1496547610/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **22** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 251 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brandon Slaght](https://appshunter.io/developer/1220543513) | [Ad Lunam Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496547609) |

## What reviewers say

### Orbits

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbits-a-planet-tracker/id1220543514)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pocket Planets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-planets/id1496547610)

Explore our solar system with detailed information on planets, moons, and astronauts. Track who is currently in space and receive notifications for new launches. Access NASA images and compare celestial body characteristics.

**Highlights:** Detailed planet and moon data, Astronaut information and missions, Real-time space occupancy, Launch notifications, NASA image gallery, Celestial body comparisons

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Orbits free?

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

### Is Pocket Planets free?

Pocket Planets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Orbits or Pocket Planets?

Orbits and Pocket Planets are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7 and 22 ratings respectively.

### Do Orbits or Pocket Planets have ads?

Pocket Planets shows ads; Orbits does not.

### Which is updated more often, Orbits or Pocket Planets?

Orbits ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pocket Planets every 3 weeks. Most recently, Orbits was updated on September 24, 2026 and Pocket Planets on October 11, 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.*