# AR Orbits vs Celestia

The clearest difference is rating: AR Orbits at 4.9 against Celestia's 4.4. AR Orbits also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (100% vs 78%). Celestia's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (324 vs 11). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Celestia sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. AR Orbits asks for nothing beyond the download.

AR Orbits holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Celestia has 324 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of AR Orbits's written reviews are positive against 78% of Celestia's.

AR Orbits ships an update every 18 months, Celestia every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AR Orbits | Celestia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-orbits/id1470324501/reviews)** | [4.4 (324 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **324** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 78.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 58 MB | 545 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Turner Thornberry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1393266702) | [林峰 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1186547508) |

## 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


### Celestia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829)

Explore the universe in real-time 3D. Visit planets, moons, star clusters, and galaxies, viewing them from any point in space and time. Customize your experience with expandable content and detailed simulations.

**Highlights:** Real-time 3D space visualization, Explore planets, moons, stars, galaxies, Accurate solar system object positions, Interactive planetarium mode, Expandable content with add-ons, Customizable celestial databases

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Celestia PLUS (Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Celestia PLUS (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Celestia PLUS (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Celestia PLUS (Lifetime) | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Realistic space simulation
- 🌌 Ability to explore galaxies and star systems
- 🔍 Detailed planet and moon textures
- 📷 Great for taking screenshots
- 🤖 Reminds users of Space Engine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🌌 Limited exploration beyond Milky Way and Andromeda
- 🌍 Flat terrain on planets
- 🔍 Lack of detail on some celestial objects
- 🔒 Paywall for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Milky Way and other galaxy textures not loading properly
- Crashes when using certain add-ons
- Issues with planet and moon orbits not being accurate

**Requested features**

- Add more exoplanets and distant star systems
- Implement terrain generation for planets
- Expand to include more galaxies and the overall universe structure
- Add support for black holes, pulsars, and other exotic objects
- Improve controls and camera movement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AR Orbits free?

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

### Is Celestia free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AR Orbits or Celestia?

AR Orbits is rated higher. AR Orbits averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Celestia averages 4.4 from 324 ratings.

### Do AR Orbits or Celestia have ads?

Neither AR Orbits nor Celestia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AR Orbits or Celestia?

AR Orbits ships an update every 18 months, and Celestia every 2 weeks. Most recently, AR Orbits was updated on June 1, 2026 and Celestia on September 28, 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.*