# Exoplanet Explorer vs Alien Planets

The clearest difference is price: Exoplanet Explorer at Free against Alien Planets's $9.99. Exoplanet Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 24 months) and device support (5 vs 2). Alien Planets's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads there is nothing between them.

Exoplanet Explorer is free to download; Alien Planets costs $9.99 up front. Exoplanet Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Alien Planets asks for nothing beyond the download.

Exoplanet Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, Alien Planets every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Exoplanet Explorer | Alien Planets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exoplanet-explorer/id1457614833/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **70** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 24 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 169 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 27.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Carsten Knoblich](https://appshunter.io/developer/541438854) | [Jose Leal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441468562) |

## What reviewers say

### Exoplanet Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exoplanet-explorer/id1457614833)

Explore a vast catalog of over 6,000 confirmed exoplanets with detailed scientific data. Compare worlds, visualize habitable zones, and track new discoveries. Ideal for stargazers, students, educators, and researchers.

**Highlights:** 6,000+ confirmed exoplanets, Detailed scientific data, Advanced filtering and sorting, Planet comparison tool, Habitable zone analysis, Home screen widgets, Apple Watch companion app

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 months subscription | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| 12 months subscription | $6.99 | per year |
| Big supporting tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Really big supporting tip | $4.99 | one-time |


### Alien Planets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alien-planets/id1478121868)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Exoplanet Explorer free?

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

### Is Alien Planets free?

Alien Planets costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Exoplanet Explorer or Alien Planets have ads?

Neither Exoplanet Explorer nor Alien Planets shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Exoplanet Explorer or Alien Planets?

Exoplanet Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Alien Planets every 24 months. Most recently, Exoplanet Explorer was updated on October 11, 2026 and Alien Planets on October 19, 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.*