# Exoplanet Explorer vs Pocket Planets

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pocket Planets at none against Exoplanet Explorer's 4. Pocket Planets also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). Exoplanet Explorer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On price, rating and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Exoplanet Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Pocket Planets asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Exoplanet Explorer against 4.6 for Pocket Planets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 70 and 22 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Exoplanet Explorer's written reviews are positive against 67% of Pocket Planets's.

Exoplanet Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, Pocket Planets every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Exoplanet Explorer | Pocket Planets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exoplanet-explorer/id1457614833/reviews) | [4.6 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-planets/id1496547610/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 169 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Carsten Knoblich](https://appshunter.io/developer/541438854) | [Ad Lunam Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496547609) |

## 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 |


### Pocket Planets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-planets/id1496547610)

Explore our solar system with detailed information on planets, moons, and astronauts. Track who is currently in space and receive notifications for new launches. Access NASA images and compare celestial body characteristics.

**Highlights:** Detailed planet and moon data, Astronaut information and missions, Real-time space occupancy, Launch notifications, NASA image gallery, Celestial body comparisons

**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 Pocket Planets free?

Pocket Planets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Exoplanet Explorer or Pocket Planets?

Exoplanet Explorer and Pocket Planets are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 70 and 22 ratings respectively.

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

Pocket Planets shows ads; Exoplanet Explorer does not.

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

Exoplanet Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pocket Planets every 3 weeks. Most recently, Exoplanet Explorer was updated on October 11, 2026 and Pocket Planets on October 11, 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.*