Comparison

Space Race AR 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

Space Race AR

Experience the history of space travel through augmented reality. This app brings an accompanying book to life with interactive videos and 3D models of spacecraft, viewable on compatible devices.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality space travel history
  • Interactive archive videos
  • 3D models of iconic space vehicles
  • View spacecraft from all angles
  • Links to purchase accompanying book
Read full description

Bring the history of space travel to life! Carlton's book Space Race tells the complete story of space travel, from the very first rockets to future missions to Mars and beyond. This app transforms the book into a unique digital experience, fuelled by the latest augmented reality technology: - Activate amazing archive videos of spaceflight that appear to play on the pages of the book. - Trigger 3D models of iconic space vehicles including the Appollo Moon Lander and the Curiosity rover, and view them from every angle with your device. How it works: Once you press the play button on the app’s opening screen, simply look at the interactive pages of your Space Race book through the app. Look out for pages with interactive boxes marked 'REPLAY HISTORY HERE!' and 'SEE IT IN 3D!'. If you don’t already have the book, tap the play button on the app's opening screen and wait for 20 seconds to get a link to a retail page outside the app where the book can be purchased. This free app is available to anyone with a compatible smartphone or tablet (iPhone 5 or above, iPad 2 or above, iPod Touch 5th Gen. or above - all running iOS 8.0 or above).

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

Bring the planets and solar system to life with Augmented Reality, and discover how the planets revolve around the sun. Enjoy interesting facts about each planet, and see every detail with high definition images of each planets surface. Observe the full solar system, and watch planets whizzing around the sun, as each planet rotates on its own axis and orbits the sun just as it does in our solar system. You can also discover facts and information about each planet individually, and learn how one planet differs from another. Your device will need to support Augmented Reality for the app to run as described. Devices that currently support AR are: - iPhone 6s or newer (including iPhone SE) - iPad Pro - iPad (5th generation or newer) - iPad Air (3rd generation) - iPad Mini (5th generation) - iPod Touch (7th generation)

Screenshots

Space Race AR4 screens
Planets AR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Planets AR at 4.5 against Space Race AR's 4.0. Planets AR also leads on ratings volume (68 vs 2). Space Race AR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 11 months vs every 72 months). On price, ads and device support 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. Planets AR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Space Race AR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Planets AR holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Planets AR has 68 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Space Race AR ships an update every 11 months, Planets AR every 72 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Space Race AR versus Planets AR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpace Race ARPlanets AR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings)4.5 (68 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings268 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 months — betterEvery 72 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size300 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCarlton Books LimitedDarren Tracey

Customer experience

Space Race AR

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

Planets AR

All ratings68 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

Space Race AR

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Planets AR

One-time1
  • Unlock all features$4.99

Questions

Is Space Race AR free?
Space Race AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Planets AR free?
Planets AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Space Race AR or Planets AR?
Planets AR is rated higher. Space Race AR averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Planets AR averages 4.5 from 68 ratings.
Do Space Race AR or Planets AR have ads?
Neither Space Race AR nor Planets AR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Space Race AR or Planets AR?
Space Race AR ships an update every 11 months, and Planets AR every 72 months. Most recently, Space Race AR was updated on June 1, 2026 and Planets AR on September 1, 2026.

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