Comparison

solAR vs Planets AR

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

solAR

Explore the solar system in 3D and augmented reality. View planets, moons, and the sun in high resolution, placing them in your real-world environment. Adjust distances and scales for an immersive educational experience.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality solar system exploration
  • High-resolution 3D models of planets and moons
  • Place celestial bodies in real-world environments
  • Adjustable planet and moon scale
  • Interactive learning about space
  • Intuitive gesture controls
Features
Read full description

Introducing solAR, the revolutionary solar system exploration app that combines cutting-edge 3D and augmented reality technology to bring the wonders of the solar system right to your doorstep. Whether you're a parent looking for a new and exciting way to engage your children, an educator seeking to enhance your lessons, or simply someone with a passion for space and science, solAR is the perfect app for you. With solAR, you can explore the sun, all the planets and moons of our solar system in stunning high-resolution graphics, and place them in your real-world environment using augmented reality. Imagine being able to see Jupiter towering over your backyard or placing Saturn's rings on a football field. With solAR, you can do just that. Our app uses the camera on your device to superimpose digital content onto the real world, creating an immersive and interactive experience that is like nothing you've ever seen before. One of the unique features of solAR is the ability to adjust the scale of the distances between the planets and moons, allowing you to see how large or small they are in relation to each other. This feature is particularly useful for educational purposes, as it allows students to better understand the relative size of the planets and moons in the solar system. But solAR is more than just a fun and interactive way to explore the solar system, it's also an educational tool. Our app includes a wealth of information about each planet and moon. Children and students can learn about the solar system in a way that is both interactive and engaging. Here are some examples of how solAR can be used in an augmented reality setting: - As a parent, you can use solAR to take a virtual field trip with your child to the planets and moons, allowing them to see the solar system in a new and exciting way. Place the planets in your garden and let your children learn about the solar system while playing outside. Compare the relative size of the planets and moons by adjusting the scale. - As an educator, you can use solAR to enhance your lessons and bring the solar system to life in the classroom. Place the solar system on a football field and let your students learn about the relative size of the planets, moons and the sun. Use the scale adjustment feature to show how far apart the planets are from each other. - As a space enthusiast, you can use solAR to explore the solar system in your own backyard or any outdoor space. Place the planets and moons in any location you want and experience the solar system in a whole new way. Adjust the scale to see the relative size of the planets and moons. solAR is designed with an intuitive user interface, making it easy for anyone to navigate and explore. With simple gestures, you can zoom in and out, rotate, and navigate through the solar system. Our app also features beautiful high-resolution graphics, ensuring that every detail of the solar system is captured in stunning clarity. So why wait? Download solAR today and experience the solar system in a whole new way. With solAR, learning about the solar system has never been more interactive, engaging and fun! Don't miss out on this marvellous opportunity. Download solAR now and start your journey today!

About

Planets AR

Explore the solar system in augmented reality, bringing planets and their orbits to life. Discover detailed facts and high-definition surface images for each celestial body. Witness the dynamic movement of planets rotating and revolving around the sun.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality solar system visualization
  • Planet orbits and rotation simulation
  • Detailed planet facts
  • High-definition planet surface images
  • Full solar system view
Read full description

Explore the solar system in 3D, or place the planets in your room with augmented reality. Discover what makes each world different through guided activities, comparisons and curated facts. • Explore the Sun, eight planets, Earth's Moon and Pluto • Discover facts about orbits, surfaces, atmospheres and moons • Compare the size and distance of two worlds • Ask questions about a world on supported devices • Enjoy the 3D viewer with or without augmented reality Start exploring for free. Unlock all worlds and features with a one-time purchase. No subscription. Fact and comparison sources: Sun: https://science.nasa.gov/sun/facts/ Mercury: https://science.nasa.gov/mercury/facts/ Venus: https://science.nasa.gov/venus/venus-facts/ Earth: https://science.nasa.gov/earth/facts/ Moon: https://science.nasa.gov/moon/facts/ Mars: https://science.nasa.gov/mars/facts/ Jupiter: https://science.nasa.gov/jupiter/jupiter-facts/ Saturn: https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/facts/ Uranus: https://science.nasa.gov/uranus/facts/ Neptune: https://science.nasa.gov/neptune/neptune-facts/ Pluto: https://science.nasa.gov/dwarf-planets/pluto/facts/ Planet measurements: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/ Enceladus: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/science/enceladus/ Challenger Deep: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/habitat-conservation/marianas-trench-marine-national-monument

Screenshots

solAR4 screens
Planets AR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: solAR at every 3 months against Planets AR's every 40 months. solAR also leads on ratings volume (2.1K vs 78) and device support (5 vs 2). Planets AR's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 67%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. solAR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Planets AR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for solAR against 4.5 for Planets AR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: solAR has 2.1K ratings behind it against 78, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of solAR's written reviews are positive against 86% of Planets AR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

solAR ships an update every 3 months, Planets AR every 40 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
solAR versus Planets AR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametersolARPlanets AR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.1K ratings) — better4.5 (78 ratings)
Positive reviews67.4% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.1K — better78
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 40 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB120 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael StoeckliDarren Tracey

Customer experience

solAR

All ratings2,080 ratings
Positive89.3%
Neutral4.4%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews138 reviews
Positive67.4%
Neutral8.7%
Negative23.9%

Planets AR

All ratings78 ratings
Positive85.9%
Neutral3.8%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

Bugs and requests

solAR

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Planets not rendering properly in iOS 16
  • Purchased content not unlocking correctly
  • Frequent crashes and performance issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more planets and dwarf planets
  • Improve accuracy of scale and orbital mechanics
  • Provide more educational information about planets
  • Allow free access to full solar system view

Planets AR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

solAR

One-time1
  • Activate all Celestial Bodies$4.99
1 purchases

Planets AR

One-time1
  • Unlock all features$4.99

Questions

Is solAR free?
solAR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Planets AR free?
Planets AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, solAR or Planets AR?
solAR is rated higher. solAR averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Planets AR averages 4.5 from 78 ratings.
Do solAR or Planets AR have ads?
Neither solAR nor Planets AR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, solAR or Planets AR?
solAR ships an update every 3 months, and Planets AR every 40 months. Most recently, solAR was updated on October 2, 2026 and Planets AR on October 1, 2026.

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