solAR vs Solar System Simulator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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!
Solar System Simulator
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.
- Augmented reality solar system visualization
- Planet orbits and rotation simulation
- Detailed planet facts
- High-definition planet surface images
- Full solar system view
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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
Verdict
solAR and Solar System Simulator both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of Solar System Simulator's written reviews are positive against 67% of solAR's. solAR's advantage is ratings volume (2.1K vs 78) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). 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
Both are free to download. solAR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Solar System Simulator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for solAR against 4.6 for Solar System Simulator. 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 Solar System Simulator's.
solAR ships an update every 3 months, Solar System Simulator every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | solAR | Solar System Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (2.1K ratings) | 4.6 (78 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 67.4% of reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.1K — better | 78 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 120 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Stoeckli | Darren Tracey |
Customer experience
solAR
Solar System Simulator
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
Solar System Simulator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
solAR
- Activate all Celestial Bodies$4.99
Solar System Simulator
- Unlock all features$4.99
Questions
Is solAR free?
Is Solar System Simulator free?
Which has better reviews, solAR or Solar System Simulator?
Do solAR or Solar System Simulator have ads?
Which is updated more often, solAR or Solar System Simulator?
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