Planetaria vs Space Gate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Planetaria
Explore a dynamic 3D model of the Solar System, synchronizing with real-time data to show celestial bodies in orbit. Discover planets, dwarf planets, and moons with detailed surface models. Manipulate time to view past and future solar system configurations.
- Interactive 3D Solar System model
- Real-time celestial body positions
- Detailed 3D surface models
- Explore planets, dwarf planets, and moons
- Time manipulation (past/future)
- AR integration
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Explore the celestial worlds of the Solar System with Planetaria, an interactive 3D simulator experience for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. This dynamic scale model of the Solar System synchronizes with real-time data to display the live positions of celestial bodies in their orbits, along with beautiful and detailed 3D models of their surfaces. On your journey through outer space, you can visit the Sun, the 8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, and over 20 major moons. Entire worlds await your discovery, each with their own individual features and environments. You can also fast-forward or rewind time, and see what the Solar System looks like at any time in the past or future. Photos and 3D models provided by NASA/JPL.
Space Gate
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.
- 3D and AR solar system exploration
- Interactive black hole simulations
- Live astronomy magazine
- Educational celestial catalogs
- Capture and save celestial snapshots
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Explore the Universe with Space-Gate - An Interactive Celestial Journey Discover the Wonders of Space: Dive into an awe-inspiring journey across the cosmos with Space-Gate. Our app brings the mysteries of the universe to your fingertips, offering a unique blend of education and entertainment. Whether you're a curious child, a student with a thirst for knowledge, or an astronomy enthusiast, our app is your gateway to exploring the solar system and beyond in stunning detail. Engage with live astronomy magazine: Dive into the cosmos with our app's magazine feature—your portal to the latest astronomy news, riveting space exploration stories, and learning progress, all in one place. Stunning 3D and AR Experiences: Experience the solar system like never before! With breathtaking 3D and advanced AR technology, you can navigate through the orbits of planets, witness the dance of their moons, and marvel at the beauty of our universe in high resolution. Our app isn't just a visual treat; it's a journey that brings the galaxy to life. Interact with Black Holes: Ever wondered what it’s like to interact with a black hole? Our innovative feature lets you manipulate the fabric of space-time, offering an immersive and educational experience. Using latest technologies, witness how black holes bend time, space, and even light at the touch of your finger. Educational Catalogs & Snapshots: Explore our extensive catalogs filled with fascinating information about each celestial body. Capture and save breathtaking celestial scenes, perfect for wallpapers or sharing your space exploration with friends. Tailored for Learning: Perfect for educators and parents, our app is an invaluable tool for teaching. From young minds to advanced learners. The app offers premium features as subscription plans and in app purchases. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, at the rate of your selected plan. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. During the free trial period, you can enjoy full access to all the app's features. If you decide to subscribe during the trial, any unused portion of the free trial period will be forfeited. For more information, please read terms of use: https://alpinebytes.ucraft.site/space-gate
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Planetaria at $4.99 against Space Gate's $12.99. Planetaria also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Space Gate's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 50%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). On rating, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Planetaria costs $4.99 and Space Gate $12.99 up front. Space Gate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Planetaria asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Planetaria against 4.8 for Space Gate. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Space Gate has 200 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Planetaria's written reviews are positive against 86% of Space Gate's.
Planetaria ships an update every 5 months, Space Gate weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and August 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Planetaria | Space Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (9 ratings) | 4.8 (200 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 85.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 200 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 510 MB | 156 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joseph Rupertus | Ali Samaei |
Customer experience
Planetaria
Space Gate
Bugs and requests
Planetaria
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Space Gate
Reported bugs
11 issues- 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
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- Navigation stuck on celestial objects (e.g., Phobos)
- Unable to exit and return to main menu
- In-app purchase restoration issues between devices
- Moon rotates multiple times per orbit
- Difficulty backing out of exploration mode
- Mercury translation error in Turkish
Requested features
12 requests- 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
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- More interactive black hole visualization
- Astrology-related content
- Improved moon orbit accuracy
- Correct planetary orbital directions
- Per-app language settings independent of iOS settings
- More detailed information and content
- True realistic scale mode with disclaimer
In-app purchases
Planetaria
No in-app purchases
Space Gate
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Annual Subscription3 Days trial$6.991 Year
- Lifetime Subscription$12.99








