# solAR vs Heliosphere

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | solAR | Heliosphere |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-full-version/id1447421737/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliosphere-solar-system/id6757491622/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **33** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 43 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Michael Stoeckli](https://appshunter.io/developer/368788110) | [CHUNGKIL KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/960187999) |

## What reviewers say

### solAR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-full-version/id1447421737)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Heliosphere

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliosphere-solar-system/id6757491622)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Coffee | $2.99 | one-time |
| 3 Coffees | $8.99 | one-time |
| 5 Coffees | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*