Satellite vs Ellipse
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Satellite
Control gravity to guide your rocket through space. Avoid crashing into planets while collecting coins to unlock new rocket styles. A simple yet engaging physics-based challenge.
- Gravity control gameplay
- Rocket navigation
- Planet avoidance
- Coin collection
- Rocket style customization
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In Satellite, YOU control gravity. Press and hold planets to move your rocket, but be careful not to crash! Collect coins along the way to buy new Rocket Styles in the shop.
Ellipse
Design, build, and launch rockets with realistic orbital mechanics. Explore celestial bodies and experience dynamic physics for a true-to-life space simulation. Ideal for aspiring engineers and space enthusiasts.
- Rocket design and customization
- Realistic orbital mechanics
- Explore celestial bodies
- Dynamic physics engine
- Space exploration simulation
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Build your own vehicles and conduct your own space missions to explore space. Launch capsules, satellites, land on the Moon, land on Mars. - Real orbital mechanics and physics, nothing is faked - Planets based on real solar system data - Thrilling visual effects - No ads, no account required, free to download
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Satellite at none against Ellipse's 3. Satellite also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 76%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). Ellipse's advantage is ratings volume (2K vs 41) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Ellipse sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Satellite asks for nothing beyond the download.
Satellite holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ellipse has 2K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Satellite's written reviews are positive against 76% of Ellipse's.
Satellite ships an update every 4 months, Ellipse monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Satellite | Ellipse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (41 ratings) — better | 4.7 (2K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 94.4% of reviews — better | 75.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 41 | 2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 293 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Basim Mekha | Starwelds |
Customer experience
Satellite
Ellipse
Bugs and requests
Satellite
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Ellipse
Reported bugs
12 issues- Connected parts don't work
- Staging issues (last stage goes first)
- Fairings don't attach
- Cannot delete after spawning samples
- Detached parts don't detach
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- Game freezes during missions
- Parachute gets cut before launch
- Expansion pack causes build issues
- Glitches on iPad
- Rocket parts don't separate
- Capsule doesn't separate from rocket near the moon
- Build area barrier
Requested features
49 requests- Add more planets
- Add astronauts
- Add a delete button
- Add more parts (solar panel, battery, antenna, wing, landing leg, chassis, monopropellant tank, docking port)
- Add electricity consumption
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- Add plane flight mechanics
- Add planet navigation (like SFS)
- Improve RCS control
- Improve plane aerodynamics
- Improve RCS in docking mode
- Add launch instructions
- Add symmetry feature
- Add staging mechanic
- Add modding or community made packs
- Add individual save slots
- Add more free stuff
- Add engine mounts
- Add SRB customizations
- Make fuel tanks adjustable
- Add emergency escape towers
- Add Jupiter and its moons
- Add Deimos (Mars' second moon)
- Add gas giants and their moons
- Add controllers support
- Add better damage and break apart models
- Add rovers
- Add Saturn V rocket parts
- Add free space shuttle
- Adjust planet speed
- Add more buildings around Earth
- Make planets more detailed
- Add more expansion parts
- Make build area better
- Remove build area barrier
- Add Saturn V rocket
- Add gas giants
- Add gas giant moons
- Add Deimos
- Add Jupiter and its 4 biggest moons
- Add more free parts
- Add tutorial on how to build
- Improve realism
- Add space stations
- Add more capsules
- Add bigger fuel tanks
- Add bigger rocket booster fuel
- Add more detailed graphics
- Add more parts to build planes
- Add a tutorial for maneuvers
In-app purchases
Satellite
No in-app purchases
Ellipse
- Large Parts$2.99
- Heavy Lift Program$4.99
- Expansion$4.99
