# Backyard Apollo AR vs Sandbox Planet

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backyard Apollo AR at none against Sandbox Planet's 6. Backyard Apollo AR also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). Sandbox Planet's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox Planet sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Backyard Apollo AR asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backyard Apollo AR holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backyard Apollo AR has 1.5K ratings behind it against 303, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Backyard Apollo AR's written reviews are positive against 52% of Sandbox Planet's.

Backyard Apollo AR ships an update every 7 months, Sandbox Planet every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backyard Apollo AR | Sandbox Planet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-apollo-ar/id1258795104/reviews)** | [4.5 (303 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-planet/id1527841661/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 303 |
| Positive reviews | **69.6% of reviews** | 51.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 82 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wobbleworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/404664339) | [Oscar Tsang](https://appshunter.io/developer/416987065) |

## What reviewers say

### Backyard Apollo AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-apollo-ar/id1258795104)

Experience a life-sized Apollo Saturn V rocket in augmented reality. Explore it from all angles, walk around it, and launch it with realistic sounds and visuals. Customize your rocket experience and share snapshots.

**Highlights:** Life-sized rocket model, 360-degree viewing, Augmented reality placement, Realistic launch sequence, Authentic mission sounds, Customizable rocket experience, Snapshot sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic rocket simulation
- 👍 Engaging and educational experience
- 💡 Potential for more rocket models
- 👍 Free to download

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Camera authorization issues
- 🔋 High memory and storage usage
- 🐛 Compatibility problems on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Startup crashes and sensor reset loops
- Rocket launch sequence freezes
- Persistent audio issues after app closure

**Requested features**

- Add more rocket models and launch configurations
- Implement video recording capability
- Improve overall stability and performance


### Sandbox Planet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-planet/id1527841661)

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.

**Highlights:** Solar system simulation, Planet building, Universe emulation, Customizable creation, Celestial body design

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5000 GP | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ad | $2.99 | one-time |
| 25000 GP | $5.99 | one-time |
| 50000 GP | $9.99 | one-time |
| 120000 GP | $19.99 | one-time |
| 200000 GP | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very fun and enjoyable game
- ✨ Beautiful graphics
- 🌌 Great sandbox experience
- 🎮 Compatible with iOS 18
- 🌠 Ability to design planets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive in-app purchases
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics
- 📉 Slow progression without spending
- 😩 Ads are frequent and intrusive
- ⏳ Takes too long to create planets

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Random planets and stars should spawn
- Add currency earning methods
- Allow naming of planets
- Add more content
- Make the game harder


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backyard Apollo AR free?

Backyard Apollo AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sandbox Planet free?

Sandbox Planet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Backyard Apollo AR or Sandbox Planet?

Backyard Apollo AR is rated higher. Backyard Apollo AR averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Sandbox Planet averages 4.5 from 303 ratings.

### Do Backyard Apollo AR or Sandbox Planet have ads?

Sandbox Planet shows ads; Backyard Apollo AR does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backyard Apollo AR or Sandbox Planet?

Backyard Apollo AR ships an update every 7 months, and Sandbox Planet every 3 months. Most recently, Backyard Apollo AR was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sandbox Planet on October 24, 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.*