# 3D AR Maps vs Celestia

The clearest difference is rating: 3D AR Maps at 5.0 against Celestia's 4.4. 3D AR Maps also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Celestia's advantage is ratings volume (331 vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Celestia sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. 3D AR Maps asks for nothing beyond the download.

3D AR Maps holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Celestia has 331 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

3D AR Maps ships an update weekly, Celestia every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 3D AR Maps | Celestia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-ar-maps/id1356848556/reviews)** | [4.4 (331 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **331** |
| Positive reviews | — | 79.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 53 MB | 545 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mapbox, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/824340886) | [林峰 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1186547508) |

## What reviewers say

### 3D AR Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-ar-maps/id1356848556)

Explore location data and build games with 3D cityscapes and terrain in augmented reality. This app provides development starting points using the Mapbox Maps SDK for Unity.

**Highlights:** 3D city and terrain previews, Tabletop AR map building blocks, Location-based game examples, Augmented reality integration, Mapbox Maps SDK for Unity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Celestia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829)

Explore the universe in real-time 3D. Visit planets, moons, star clusters, and galaxies, viewing them from any point in space and time. Customize your experience with expandable content and detailed simulations.

**Highlights:** Real-time 3D space visualization, Explore planets, moons, stars, galaxies, Accurate solar system object positions, Interactive planetarium mode, Expandable content with add-ons, Customizable celestial databases

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Celestia PLUS (Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Celestia PLUS (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Celestia PLUS (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Celestia PLUS (Lifetime) | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Realistic space simulation
- 🌌 Ability to explore galaxies and star systems
- 🔍 Detailed planet and moon textures
- 📷 Great for taking screenshots
- 🤖 Reminds users of Space Engine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🌌 Limited exploration beyond Milky Way and Andromeda
- 🌍 Flat terrain on planets
- 🔍 Lack of detail on some celestial objects
- 🔒 Paywall for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Milky Way and other galaxy textures not loading properly
- Crashes when using certain add-ons
- Issues with planet and moon orbits not being accurate

**Requested features**

- Add more exoplanets and distant star systems
- Implement terrain generation for planets
- Expand to include more galaxies and the overall universe structure
- Add support for black holes, pulsars, and other exotic objects
- Improve controls and camera movement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 3D AR Maps free?

3D AR Maps is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Celestia free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 3D AR Maps or Celestia?

3D AR Maps is rated higher. 3D AR Maps averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Celestia averages 4.4 from 331 ratings.

### Do 3D AR Maps or Celestia have ads?

Neither 3D AR Maps nor Celestia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 3D AR Maps or Celestia?

3D AR Maps ships an update weekly, and Celestia every 2 weeks. Most recently, 3D AR Maps was updated on October 1, 2026 and Celestia on October 15, 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.*