Paint with Planets! vs Real Solar System
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Paint with Planets!
Explore and create with a variety of public domain graphic images. This app provides a platform for users to engage with different visual elements.
- Public domain graphic images
- Planet images from NASA
- Creative exploration
- Educational content
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Special thanks for the public domain graphic images from Pinterest, KissClipart, memegene.net, pinclipart.com, clipart-library.com and for the planet images from NASA.
Real Solar System
Explore a realistic solar system simulation using augmented reality. View the orbits of planets and celestial bodies based on real-time data, with adjustable speeds and zoom functions. Discover different objects and learn about their positions in space.
- Realistic AR solar system simulation
- Orbits of 8 planets displayed
- Realistic planet textures
- Planet positions based on real values
- Adjustable speed and zoom
- Changeable celestial objects
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This solar system simulator reflects actual planetary position information. When the app is launched, the sun is positioned 20 cm in front of the device, based on the device's position. Around it, the eight main planets of the solar system and the celestial body to be observed orbit. The orbits are displayed as if they were trajectories. The position of each planet is calculated based on actual values. # Features - x] Realistic solar system with ARKit - x] Orbits of the 8 planets are displayed. - x] Planets are realistic textures imported from USDZ files. - x] Planet positions are calculated based on real values (using Horizons API) - x] The object to be observed can be changed. - x] Display of the orbit of the object of interest - x] Calculate the position of the target object based on actual values (using the Horizons API). - x] Adjustable speed (minus value for reverse rotation) - x] Zoom function (zoom in/zoom out) - x] Toggle the display of the text information and the coordinate axis (New!) ## How to use 1. when you launch the application, you will be asked for "permission to use camera" at the first startup. If you allow it, an ARKit session will start. 2. 2. a coordinate axis will be placed 20 cm in front of you, based on the device's position. 3. Tap the "Load Planet" button to load the planet model. Just wait a moment. 4. The 8 main planets of the solar system and the object to be observed will orbit around it. 5. Move the device to observe the solar system from various angles. 6. Tap the buttons at the bottom of the screen to adjust the speed and zoom. 7. You can change the object to be observed from the menu in the upper right corner of the screen. 1. Halley's Comet 2. Hayabusa2 & Ryugyu 3. Voyager 1 & 2 4. New Horizons & Pluto 5. Cassini (New!) 6. OSIRIS-REx & Bennu 7. Comparison of Circle and Ellipse 8. Geocentric theory (New!) 8. Toggle the display of the text information and the coordinate axis from the menu in the upper right corner of the screen. (New!)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Paint with Planets! at 4.0 against Real Solar System's 1.0. Paint with Planets! also leads on ratings volume (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). Real Solar System's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Paint with Planets! holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.
Paint with Planets! ships an update every 9 months, Real Solar System monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Paint with Planets! | Real Solar System |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 302 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert L Zimmelman | Masaya Nagaoka |
In-app purchases
Paint with Planets!
No in-app purchases
Real Solar System
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Paint with Planets! free?
Is Real Solar System free?
Which has better reviews, Paint with Planets! or Real Solar System?
Do Paint with Planets! or Real Solar System have ads?
Which is updated more often, Paint with Planets! or Real Solar System?
Other comparisons
