# AR Orbits vs Pocket Planets

The clearest difference is ads: AR Orbits at none against Pocket Planets's shown. AR Orbits also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). Pocket Planets's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 18 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

AR Orbits holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 22 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of AR Orbits's written reviews are positive against 67% of Pocket Planets's.

AR Orbits ships an update every 18 months, Pocket Planets every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AR Orbits | Pocket Planets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-orbits/id1470324501/reviews)** | [4.6 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-planets/id1496547610/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **22** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 58 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Turner Thornberry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1393266702) | [Ad Lunam Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496547609) |

## What reviewers say

### AR Orbits

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-orbits/id1470324501)

Explore the solar system and understand satellite mechanics through augmented reality. This app simplifies complex astrophysics concepts, allowing users to create and plot their own orbits, making rocket science accessible for learning and homework.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality exploration, Satellite mechanics simulation, Orbit plotting and creation, Astrophysics homework assistance, Solar system discovery

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 AR Orbits free?

AR Orbits is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pocket Planets free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AR Orbits or Pocket Planets?

AR Orbits is rated higher. AR Orbits averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Pocket Planets averages 4.6 from 22 ratings.

### Do AR Orbits or Pocket Planets have ads?

Pocket Planets shows ads; AR Orbits does not.

### Which is updated more often, AR Orbits or Pocket Planets?

AR Orbits ships an update every 18 months, and Pocket Planets every 3 weeks. Most recently, AR Orbits was updated on June 1, 2026 and Pocket Planets on September 8, 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.*