Comparison

solAR vs Heliosphere

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

solAR

Explore the solar system in 3D and augmented reality. Visualize planets and moons in your environment, adjust their scale, and learn fascinating facts. Ideal for parents, educators, and space enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • 3D solar system exploration
  • Augmented reality integration
  • Planet and moon visualization
  • Adjustable scale for relative size
  • High-resolution graphics
  • Educational content
Read full description

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!

About

Heliosphere

Explore a real-time 3D simulation of the solar system, planets, moons, and spacecraft using accurate astronomical data. Learn about celestial bodies and space missions with educational content and quizzes.

Highlights
  • Real-time 3D solar system simulation
  • Live spacecraft tracking
  • Deep sky exploration
  • Comprehensive astronomy education
  • Time travel from 1900 to 2100
  • Planet-centric viewing mode
Features
Read full description

Explore the solar system at your fingertips. Heliosphere is a real-time 3D solar system simulation powered by NASA JPL Horizons data. It accurately recreates the orbits of planets, moons, comets, and dwarf planets while tracking the real positions of active spacecraft. * Real-time 3D Solar System Simulation — 8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, 10+ moons, and 4 comets — Precise Keplerian orbit calculations based on real astronomical data — Time travel from 1900 to 2100 — Pan, zoom, and rotate for a free-roaming perspective — Switch to planet-centric viewing mode * Live Spacecraft Tracking — Voyager 1, 2 | Pioneer 10, 11 — Cassini | Juno | New Horizons | Parker Solar Probe — Real position data from NASA JPL Horizons API * Deep Sky Exploration — Over 150 bright stars — 530 Milky Way stars — 124 deep-sky objects (Messier, NGC/IC catalogs) * Comprehensive Astronomy Education — 6 difficulty levels from middle school to graduate — Core concepts: Kepler's Laws, gravity, escape velocity, and more — Mission timelines for Voyager, Cassini, New Horizons, and others — 60+ quiz questions to test your knowledge — Historical space event date-guessing challenges * Free for Everyone — All content available at no cost — No ads — 11 languages supported Experience the beauty of the cosmos and the wonder of science through scientifically accurate data and intuitive interaction.

Screenshots

solAR4 screens
Heliosphere4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Heliosphere at Free against solAR's $4.99. Heliosphere also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 38%). solAR's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads 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

Heliosphere is free to download; solAR costs $4.99 up front. Heliosphere sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. solAR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

solAR holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: solAR has 33 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of solAR's written reviews are positive against 50% of Heliosphere's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

solAR ships an update every 4 months, Heliosphere every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
solAR versus Heliosphere: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametersolARHeliosphere
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (33 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, Vision Pro
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael StoeckliCHUNGKIL KIM

Customer experience

solAR

All ratings33 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive37.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative37.5%

Heliosphere

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

solAR

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Heliosphere

One-time3
  • 1 Coffee$2.99
  • 3 Coffees$8.99
  • 5 Coffees$14.99

Questions

Is solAR free?
solAR costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Heliosphere free?
Heliosphere is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, solAR or Heliosphere?
solAR is rated higher. solAR averages 4.9 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Heliosphere averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do solAR or Heliosphere have ads?
Neither solAR nor Heliosphere shows ads.
Which is updated more often, solAR or Heliosphere?
solAR ships an update every 4 months, and Heliosphere every 3 days. Most recently, solAR was updated on October 11, 2026 and Heliosphere on October 14, 2026.

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