# SOS Explorer vs DIY Solar System

The clearest difference is update cadence: DIY Solar System at every 2 months against SOS Explorer's every 11 months. DIY Solar System also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 86%). SOS Explorer's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SOS Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 16 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of SOS Explorer's written reviews are positive against 100% of DIY Solar System's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SOS Explorer ships an update every 11 months, DIY Solar System every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SOS Explorer | DIY Solar System |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-explorer/id1358724422/reviews)** | [4.5 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diy-solar-system/id1644242890/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 249 MB | 180 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) | [The Lawrence Hall of Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/462994550) |

## What reviewers say

### SOS Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-explorer/id1358724422)

Explore interactive animated datasets of Earth and space phenomena, from planetary rings to climate change models. This app brings complex environmental processes to life in an intuitive and captivating way, making learning accessible anywhere.

**Highlights:** Streaming high-resolution datasets, Educational videos, User-guided tours, Analysis tools, 100+ datasets, Global and flat map views

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### DIY Solar System

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diy-solar-system/id1644242890)

Explore the solar system with interactive activities and an augmented reality planet walk. Learn about space travel, design a moon base, and identify celestial objects. Developed by leading science institutions, this app makes learning about space engaging for families and educators.

**Highlights:** Interactive space activities, Augmented reality planet walk, Design a moon base, Grow a space garden, Control a Mars rover, In or Out space game, NASA imagery

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SOS Explorer free?

SOS Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DIY Solar System free?

DIY Solar System is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SOS Explorer or DIY Solar System?

SOS Explorer is rated higher. SOS Explorer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while DIY Solar System averages 4.5 from 16 ratings.

### Do SOS Explorer or DIY Solar System have ads?

Neither SOS Explorer nor DIY Solar System shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SOS Explorer or DIY Solar System?

SOS Explorer ships an update every 11 months, and DIY Solar System every 2 months. Most recently, SOS Explorer was updated on September 7, 2026 and DIY Solar System on June 3, 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.*