SolarSystem vs DIY Solar System
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SolarSystem
Explore the solar system through immersive MR, VR, and AR experiences. Adjust settings for your device and preferred viewing mode to learn about planets and space.
- Mixed Reality (MR) mode
- Virtual Reality (VR) mode
- Augmented Reality (AR) mode
- Adjustable screen size
- Single eye/Dual eye mode
- Inter-pupillary distance correction
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iPhone 1: Start the app while tilting the iPhone 90 degrees left, then set the iPhone to the MR glass "Dangla". 2: You can check the menu by looking at Dangla. When only planetary motion is displayed or the menu does not display well in the field of view, tapping the left button of Dangla with the front facing will display the menu in the front. 3: With the body facing to the right, move the sphere cursor at the center of the screen to the right edge [System menu] of the three menus, and tap the right button (hereinafter "Select"). 4: Next, Select the [Screen size] at the left end of the menu, and a list of compatible models will appear. Select the iPhone model you are using, and then Select [Decision] to confirm the model you are using. 5: Select the scene you want to experience from the [MR] [VR] [AR] that on main menu, and enjoy the application. 6: While using the app, tap the left button of Dangla at any time to display the menu. The functions and roles of each menu are as follows. ***Menu immediately after app start or restart*** [Restart] Returns to the state(menu) immediately after the application start [front] Display the content (SolarSystem) to the Straight ahead. [System menu] Move to main menu ***Main menu*** [ScreenSize] Select the model from iPhone 6S to XS MAX ※ In order to fit the size of the iPhone screen to the size of the mirror and lens, the screen display will be relatively shrunk as the LCD screen size of the iPhone increases. [Two eyes / Single eye] Switch the single eye / both eyes mode [IPD] Correct inter-pupil distance by program [MR] Mixed reality mode, background image is displayed superimposed with live-action image through the half mirror [VR] Virtual reality mode, both solar system and background space display 3D produced images [AR] Augmented reality mode, background image is displayed superimposed with live-action image through iPhone camera [Startup setting] (a preliminary menu for developers) iPad 1: Start the app while tilting the iPad 90 degrees left. Since the iPad can not be put in a Dangla, please enjoy using single eye mode alone. (Explained in 5 :) 2: Menu is displayed on the screen of iPad. If you only see the planet or if the menu does not look well, tapping the lower left corner of the screen while facing the front will bring the menu to the front. 3: Point the your body to the right, place the sphere cursor on the [System menu] on the far right, and tap the lower right of the screen (hereinafter "Select"). 4: Next, Select the [Screen Size] at the left end of the menu to display the list of compatible models. Select (Not [Maximum XS-Max])[Minimum 6S-7-8 Full Screen] and Select [Decision]. 5: Next, Select [Two eyes / Single eye], and when the screen changes, Select [Single eye]. 6: While using the app, tap the lower left of the iPad screen at any time to display the menu. The function and role of each menu are the same as the above iPhone. 【please note】 ・ Do not use this app on public roads or places with many people. ・ Please be sure to play small children always in the safe with parents. ・ Don't aim "Dangla” at the sun. ・ Don't use in the two eyes mode if you are under the age of 13 in the developmental stage of vision ・ We do not compensate for the damage caused by using this application directly or indirectly.
DIY Solar System
Explore the solar system with interactive activities and an augmented reality planet walk. Learn about space travel, design a moon base, and identify celestial objects. Developed by leading science institutions, this app makes learning about space engaging for families and educators.
- Interactive space activities
- Augmented reality planet walk
- Design a moon base
- Grow a space garden
- Control a Mars rover
- In or Out space game
- NASA imagery
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DIY Solar System makes it easy for families and educators to explore the solar system from anywhere, anytime! The app was developed by the Children’s Creativity Museum, Sciencenter, and Museum of Life and Science, in partnership with UC Berkeley’s The Lawrence Hall of Science. INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES DIY Solar System includes 11 easy-to-use activities to learn about space travel, living in space, and the unique objects that make up the planetary system we call home. Design a Moon base, grow your own space garden, or experience what it’s like to control a rover on Mars! Each activity includes step-by-step instructions that have been tested by educators, kids, and families. Activity materials are easily available and inexpensive—you may already have many of them in your home! AUGMENTED REALITY PLANET WALK Don’t have the time to travel several billion miles to reach Neptune? Try dropping a scale version of the solar system outside your home to start a walk that will show you planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids. At each stop, examine the space object up close using real images from NASA. Don’t forget to take a space selfie with your favorite planet! IN OR OUT GAME Quickly scan awe-inspiring images of space objects from NASA’s Earth and space observatories to decide if the objects are in or out of the solar system. While the solar system is vast, it only represents a tiny corner of the universe. After you have mastered your solar system knowledge, challenge yourself to a new round of objects in or out of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Funding Source This work was supported by NASA under award number 80NSSC21M0082. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs are those of the author and do not reflect the views of NASA. Compatibility Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone and iPad. Rated 4+.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DIY Solar System at 4.5 against SolarSystem's 3.0. DIY Solar System also leads on ratings volume (16 vs 1). SolarSystem's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). 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.
DIY Solar System holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DIY Solar System has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
SolarSystem ships an update monthly, DIY Solar System every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SolarSystem | DIY Solar System |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (1 ratings) | 4.5 (16 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 16 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 89 MB | 180 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hologram Co.,Ltd. | The Lawrence Hall of Science |
Customer experience
SolarSystem
DIY Solar System
In-app purchases
SolarSystem
No in-app purchases
DIY Solar System
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SolarSystem free?
Is DIY Solar System free?
Which has better reviews, SolarSystem or DIY Solar System?
Do SolarSystem or DIY Solar System have ads?
Which is updated more often, SolarSystem or DIY Solar System?
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