Cosmic Atlas vs Solar System Simulation
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cosmic Atlas
Explore a vast, scientifically rendered universe with lifelike exoplanets and detailed celestial bodies. Navigate through trillions of light years with multiple exploration modes, from first-person flight to telescopic identification. Discover and learn about thousands of planets beyond our solar system.
- Explore 5,000+ lifelike exoplanets
- Navigate 180 trillion sq light years
- Six interstellar travel modes
- First-person planet view
- Scientifically accurate renderings
- Telescope identification mode
- Detailed planet information panels
Read full descriptionHide full description
Go beyond star gazing. Visit nearly 5,000 lifelike exoplanets and navigate 180 trillion square light years of the universe beyond our solar system. Featuring 6 modes of interstellar travel and examination, Cosmic Atlas is an open-world space exploration app for those who look up at the night sky and wonder what we may find in the infinite frontier of the universe. Try it free and fly anywhere in the solar system plus six bonus planetary systems for a total of 50+ stunning planets, moons, and dwarf planets. Upgrade for all the incredible planets and features to explore every corner of the Milky Way mapped by NASA, JPL, ESA, and other international space programs. ::::: VISIT THOUSANDS OF PLANETS ::::: First-person view of 4,987 recently discovered exoplanets with stunning 3D models featuring detailed atmospheres and surfaces using science-driven artist renderings, including: [•] Potentially habitable Earth-like planets in the Habitable Zone that can support liquid water [•] Hot terrestrial planets closer to the system's star with landscapes from windswept sands to volcanic infernos or oppressive Venus-like atmospheres [•] Cold terrestrial planets past the habitable zone covered with rocks, frozen deserts, or sheets of ice [•] Jovian gas giants with colorful cloud layers based on the elements visible in the upper atmosphere at different temperatures [•] Neptunian ice giants with outer clouds that appear glassy smooth or enveloped with strings of cool clouds ::PLUS:: High resolution planets, moons, and dwarf planets in our own Solar System created from enhanced NASA mission images ::::: MASSIVE OPEN COSMIC ENVIRONMENT ::::: [•] Over 180 trillion square light years of the Milky Way ready to explore at it’s true scale [•] 116,000+ unique stars individually colored to match their true color temperature in blue, yellow, or red spectrums [•] 3,710 unique planetary systems with confirmed exoplanets [•] Scientifically accurate star positions and luminosity to see what the night sky looks like from distant worlds [•] Data-rich information panels to learn about planet attributes, parent system, discovery method, and research programs credited with its discovery [•] Flag stars and planets to easily revisit later ::::: SIX EXPLORATION MODES ::::: [New!] Telescope :: to point your phone at the sky to identify planets, stars, and distant planetary systems Pilot :: with first person flight controls and autopilot to lock trajectory toward a selected destination Orbit :: to easily navigate systems and rotate or zoom in to examine planets Navigator :: to find nearby systems and planets or revisit saved planets Database :: to browse the complete catalog find new exoplanets, planetary systems, and stars Search :: to find specific stars and exoplanets or nearby planets, moons, and dwarf planets in our solar system ::::: SETTINGS ::::: HDR Lighting :: Active by default, HDR lighting shows realistic relative brightness of stars and planets. Toggle HDR off for consistent lighting with stars and the Milky Way always visible in the background. Systems Only :: Enable to hide labels for stars without exoplanets in Pilot, Navigator, & Telescope modes. Objects with Info Only :: Enable to hide labels for stars without detailed data available. ::::: DATA SOURCES ::::: Using the latest exoplanet data from programs by NASA and the European Space Agency, Cosmic Atlas is a true-to-scale 3D environment where users can freely explore our small section Milky Way galaxy and examine thousands of newly discovered stars and exoplanets. The latest planetary system data is collected from a number of public research programs, including the University of Puerto Rico's Planetary Habitability Laboratory and the NASA Exoplanet Archive, which is operated by the California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA under the Exoplanet Exploration Program.
Solar System Simulation
Explore the cosmos with interactive 3D models of planets and moons. Witness the dynamic interplay of gravitational forces through orbit simulations and gain educational insights into celestial bodies. Discover the beauty of our solar neighborhood in a new dimension.
- Interactive 3D planet models
- Orbit simulation
- Educational insights
- Zoom and rotate functionality
- Detailed planet information
Read full descriptionHide full description
Introducing "Solar System Simulation" an immersive app that takes you on an awe-inspiring journey through the vast wonders of the Solar System. Whether you're a space enthusiast, a student, or just curious about the cosmos, this app brings the celestial bodies to life in stunning three-dimensional detail. The app is for iOS and macOS. Key Features: Interactive 3D Models: Explore the planets and moon in our Solar System with realistic 3D models. Zoom in for close-ups, rotate to view from different angles, and read planet details. Orbit Simulation: Observe planetary orbits experiencing the dynamic interplay of gravitational forces. Educational Insights: The app provides details about the planets with each future version adding more educational information. Explore, learn, and marvel at the beauty of our cosmic neighbourhood in a whole new dimension. For navigation around planets using touch to rotate.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Cosmic Atlas at Free against Solar System Simulation's $5.99. Cosmic Atlas also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (65 vs 1). Solar System Simulation's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Cosmic Atlas is free to download; Solar System Simulation costs $5.99 up front. Cosmic Atlas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Solar System Simulation asks for nothing beyond the download.
Solar System Simulation holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cosmic Atlas has 65 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Cosmic Atlas ships an update every 3 weeks, Solar System Simulation every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cosmic Atlas | Solar System Simulation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $5.99 |
| Rating | 3.7 (65 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 65 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 147 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cosmic Atlas LLC | Taliyo Ltd |
Customer experience
Cosmic Atlas
Solar System Simulation
Bugs and requests
Cosmic Atlas
Reported bugs
8 issues- App crashes upon opening
- Kicked out of the game
- Cannot connect to server
- Error that doesn't let user in
- Planets brighten up unexpectedly
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Dark side of planets brightens up
- Cannot buy upgrades
- App became free after purchase, now requires new purchase for features
Requested features
7 requests- Add more solar system objects
- Fix Haumea's shape
- Add more candidates, dwarf moons, hypothetical objects, spacecrafts, anomalies, random asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
- Add ability to go into planets and see a preview
- Add more galaxies to travel to
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Add a search page/bar
- Add control for enlarging text
Solar System Simulation
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Cosmic Atlas
- Premium Features$0.99
Solar System Simulation
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Cosmic Atlas free?
Is Solar System Simulation free?
Which has better reviews, Cosmic Atlas or Solar System Simulation?
Do Cosmic Atlas or Solar System Simulation have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cosmic Atlas or Solar System Simulation?
Other comparisons















