# Sandbox Planet vs Rocket Simulator

The clearest difference is rating: Sandbox Planet at 4.5 against Rocket Simulator's 3.8. Sandbox Planet also leads on review sentiment (53% vs 10%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox Planet sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Rocket Simulator sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sandbox Planet holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 300 and 422 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Sandbox Planet's written reviews are positive against 10% of Rocket Simulator's.

Sandbox Planet ships an update every 3 months, Rocket Simulator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sandbox Planet | Rocket Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (300 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-planet/id1527841661/reviews)** | [3.8 (422 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rocket-simulator-spaceflight/id1624406379/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 300 | **422** |
| Positive reviews | **52.5% of reviews** | 10.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 118 MB | 280 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oscar Tsang](https://appshunter.io/developer/416987065) | [Education Terra](https://appshunter.io/developer/946819038) |

## What reviewers say

### Sandbox Planet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-planet/id1527841661)

Create and customize your own solar systems and planets. Emulate the development of the universe with highly detailed simulation tools. Build any celestial body you can imagine.

**Highlights:** Solar system simulation, Planet building, Universe emulation, Customizable creation, Celestial body design

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5000 GP | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ad | $2.99 | one-time |
| 25000 GP | $5.99 | one-time |
| 50000 GP | $9.99 | one-time |
| 120000 GP | $19.99 | one-time |
| 200000 GP | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very fun and enjoyable game
- ✨ Beautiful graphics
- 🌌 Great sandbox experience
- 🎮 Compatible with iOS 18
- 🌠 Ability to design planets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive in-app purchases
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics
- 📉 Slow progression without spending
- 😩 Ads are frequent and intrusive
- ⏳ Takes too long to create planets

**Reported bugs**

- Advertisements have non-functional close buttons
- App crashes frequently
- Video ads for currency don't load
- Bug with GP conversion where it decreases
- Daytime interface is too bright

**Requested features**

- Random planets and stars should spawn
- Add currency earning methods
- Allow naming of planets
- Add more content
- Make the game harder


### Rocket Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rocket-simulator-spaceflight/id1624406379)

Build and launch your own rockets in augmented reality. Assemble various rocket models, learn about their history and functions, and customize them with AI-generated stickers. Experience space exploration with different missions and modes.

**Highlights:** AR rocket assembly, Rocket model customization, Historical rocket information, AI sticker generation, Flight simulation, Educational facts about rockets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rocket Ship - 1 Week | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Rocket Simulator: Spaceflight | $19.99 | per month |
| Rocket Ship Building & Launch | $20.99 | per year |
| 3 Months Subscription | $20.99 | per 3 months |
| 2 Months Subscription | $39.99 | per 2 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cool concept
- 👍 Epic game
- 👍 Nice
- 👍 Good game
- 👍 Great game!

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Pay to play
- 💸 Subscription required
- 💸 Expensive
- 💸 Misleading free trial
- 💸 Unusable without payment

**Reported bugs**

- Parts don't connect
- No command center on launch
- Rocket goes to sky and mission complete
- Animations not shown correctly
- Slow rollout animation

**Requested features**

- Add command center
- Add space exploration
- Add more to the game
- Add staging and space rocket control
- Add other planets to land on


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sandbox Planet free?

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

### Is Rocket Simulator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sandbox Planet or Rocket Simulator?

Sandbox Planet is rated higher. Sandbox Planet averages 4.5 out of 5 from 300 ratings, while Rocket Simulator averages 3.8 from 422 ratings.

### Do Sandbox Planet or Rocket Simulator have ads?

Both Sandbox Planet and Rocket Simulator show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sandbox Planet or Rocket Simulator?

Sandbox Planet ships an update every 3 months, and Rocket Simulator every 2 months. Most recently, Sandbox Planet was updated on September 26, 2026 and Rocket Simulator on September 23, 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.*