# PLANETARIUM vs Space Gate

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Space Gate at 86% against PLANETARIUM's 25%. Space Gate also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 49 months). PLANETARIUM's advantage is price (Free vs $12.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

PLANETARIUM is free to download; Space Gate costs $12.99 up front. Space Gate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. PLANETARIUM asks for nothing beyond the download.

PLANETARIUM ships an update every 49 months, Space Gate weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PLANETARIUM | Space Gate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $12.99 |
| Rating | — | **[4.8 (202 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-gate-ar-solar-system/id6474214531/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **202** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **85.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 49 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 195 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WAY Srl](https://appshunter.io/developer/1707864476) | [Ali Samaei](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721049950) |

## What reviewers say

### PLANETARIUM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planetarium/id1532715462)

Discover the Solar System with this educational app. Explore planets, land on points of interest to learn more, and test your knowledge with quizzes. Embark on a cosmic journey and learn about our celestial neighbors.

**Highlights:** Explore the Solar System, Learn about planets, Interactive landing points, Knowledge-testing quizzes, Educational content

**In-app purchases:** none


### Space Gate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-gate-ar-solar-system/id6474214531)

Explore the universe with interactive 3D and AR experiences of the solar system. Discover celestial bodies, engage with live astronomy news, and even interact with black holes. Tailored for learning and education.

**Highlights:** 3D and AR solar system exploration, Interactive black hole simulations, Live astronomy magazine, Educational celestial catalogs, Capture and save celestial snapshots

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $6.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Subscription | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Stunning 3D graphics and visual quality
- 🌍 Immersive AR experience for exploring planets
- 📚 Comprehensive educational content about space
- 🎓 Excellent tool for teachers and students
- 📸 Screenshot/snapshot capture functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Misleading free-to-play pricing model
- 🔒 Unexpected in-app purchase charges
- 🎮 Unintuitive navigation and UI
- 🐛 Orbital mechanics inaccuracies
- 🌙 Moon tidal locking not correctly simulated

**Reported bugs**

- Moon not tidally locked to Earth
- Moon orbiting Earth in wrong direction
- Planets orbiting sun in opposing/incorrect directions
- Uranus moons glitched
- Venus orbital speed faster than Mercury

**Requested features**

- Ability to set any planet as immobile center point
- More free planets without paywall
- Additional galaxies beyond solar system
- Toggle for planet/moon/star name labels
- Time-lapse function with variable speeds


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PLANETARIUM free?

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

### Is Space Gate free?

Space Gate costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Do PLANETARIUM or Space Gate have ads?

Neither PLANETARIUM nor Space Gate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PLANETARIUM or Space Gate?

PLANETARIUM ships an update every 49 months, and Space Gate weekly. Most recently, PLANETARIUM was updated on October 24, 2026 and Space Gate on October 24, 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.*