# Solar System Maker vs Celestia

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Celestia at 79% against Solar System Maker's 27%. Celestia also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.1) and ratings volume (331 vs 63). Solar System Maker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Celestia sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Solar System Maker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Celestia holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Celestia has 331 ratings behind it against 63, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Solar System Maker's written reviews are positive against 79% of Celestia's.

Solar System Maker ships an update every 6 days, Celestia every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Solar System Maker | Celestia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-maker/id1452778482/reviews) | **[4.4 (331 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 63 | **331** |
| Positive reviews | 27.3% of reviews | **79.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 545 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shinichi Takemura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441889523) | [林峰 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1186547508) |

## What reviewers say

### Solar System Maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-maker/id1452778482)

Create your own solar systems on your device. Experience the gravitational forces that govern planetary motion and learn about the universe. This app offers a beautiful, realistic, and interactive way to explore celestial mechanics.

**Highlights:** Create custom solar systems, Realistic 3D reproduction, Intuitive operation, Simulate planetary orbits, Educational tool for children

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Celestia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829)

Explore the universe in real-time 3D. Visit planets, moons, star clusters, and galaxies, viewing them from any point in space and time. Customize your experience with expandable content and detailed simulations.

**Highlights:** Real-time 3D space visualization, Explore planets, moons, stars, galaxies, Accurate solar system object positions, Interactive planetarium mode, Expandable content with add-ons, Customizable celestial databases

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Celestia PLUS (Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Celestia PLUS (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Celestia PLUS (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Celestia PLUS (Lifetime) | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Realistic space simulation
- 🌌 Ability to explore galaxies and star systems
- 🔍 Detailed planet and moon textures
- 📷 Great for taking screenshots
- 🤖 Reminds users of Space Engine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🌌 Limited exploration beyond Milky Way and Andromeda
- 🌍 Flat terrain on planets
- 🔍 Lack of detail on some celestial objects
- 🔒 Paywall for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Milky Way and other galaxy textures not loading properly
- Crashes when using certain add-ons
- Issues with planet and moon orbits not being accurate

**Requested features**

- Add more exoplanets and distant star systems
- Implement terrain generation for planets
- Expand to include more galaxies and the overall universe structure
- Add support for black holes, pulsars, and other exotic objects
- Improve controls and camera movement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Solar System Maker free?

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

### Is Celestia free?

Celestia is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Solar System Maker or Celestia?

Celestia is rated higher. Solar System Maker averages 3.1 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while Celestia averages 4.4 from 331 ratings.

### Do Solar System Maker or Celestia have ads?

Neither Solar System Maker nor Celestia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Solar System Maker or Celestia?

Solar System Maker ships an update every 6 days, and Celestia every 2 weeks. Most recently, Solar System Maker was updated on October 8, 2026 and Celestia on October 15, 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.*