Comparison

Intergalactic Solar System vs DIY Solar System

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Intergalactic Solar System

Explore planets, moons, and countries in this space simulator mini-game. Learn astronomy and geography aligned with next-generation science standards. Discover the Milky Way galaxy and assess your knowledge through engaging gameplay.

Highlights
  • Planet and moon exploration
  • Country geography learning
  • Milky Way galaxy view
  • Common Core aligned curriculum
  • Proficiency assessment
  • Engaging gameplay levels
Features
Read full description

Intergalactic Education introduces Intergalactic Solar System, a mini-game that teaches about planets, moons, and countries. This space simulator lets you explore celestial bodies from the viewpoint of space itself. The latest edition adds the Milky Way as an observable galaxy. Intergalactic Solar System uses next generation science standards (Common Core aligned) astronomy and geography. (Follows standards ESS1.A, ESS1.B, and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7) Try Intergalactic Solar System! Assess proficiency in Solar System knowledge according to educational standards. Rewarding levels of gameplay maintain engagement. You will forget you were doing astronomy and geography!

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Intergalactic Solar System3 screens
DIY Solar System4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: DIY Solar System at 4.5 against Intergalactic Solar System's 4.0. DIY Solar System also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 70%). Intergalactic Solar System's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Intergalactic Solar System sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DIY Solar System asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DIY Solar System holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Intergalactic Solar System's written reviews are positive against 100% of DIY Solar System's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Intergalactic Solar System ships an update monthly, DIY Solar System every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Intergalactic Solar System versus DIY Solar System: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIntergalactic Solar SystemDIY Solar System
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (25 ratings)4.5 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25 — better16
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size355 MB180 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIntergalactic Education LLCThe Lawrence Hall of Science

Customer experience

Intergalactic Solar System

All ratings20 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%

DIY Solar System

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Intergalactic Solar System

One-time1
  • Access to Full Game$3.99
None

DIY Solar System

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Intergalactic Solar System free?
Intergalactic Solar System is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DIY Solar System free?
DIY Solar System is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Intergalactic Solar System or DIY Solar System?
DIY Solar System is rated higher. Intergalactic Solar System averages 4.0 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while DIY Solar System averages 4.5 from 16 ratings.
Do Intergalactic Solar System or DIY Solar System have ads?
Neither Intergalactic Solar System nor DIY Solar System shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Intergalactic Solar System or DIY Solar System?
Intergalactic Solar System ships an update monthly, and DIY Solar System every 2 months. Most recently, Intergalactic Solar System was updated on September 22, 2026 and DIY Solar System on June 3, 2026.

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