# SandBox vs Solar System Sim

SandBox and Solar System Sim both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Solar System Sim's written reviews are positive against 36% of SandBox's. Solar System Sim also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). SandBox's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (45K vs 4.1K). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Solar System Sim sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. SandBox asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SandBox against 4.5 for Solar System Sim. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SandBox has 45K ratings behind it against 4.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of SandBox's written reviews are positive against 80% of Solar System Sim's.

SandBox ships an update every 3 months, Solar System Sim every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SandBox | Solar System Sim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (45K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-sand-box/id1547780686/reviews)** | [4.5 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-sim/id6447612221/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **45K** | 4.1K |
| Positive reviews | 36.3% of reviews | **79.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 150 MB | 512 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TINYSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/960613741) | [WPC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1681830786) |

## What reviewers say

### SandBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-sand-box/id1547780686)

Engage in a dynamic particle physics playground with full rotation. Discover how various elements interact to produce captivating outcomes, offering both creative freedom and educational opportunities.

**Highlights:** Particle physics simulation, Element interaction and combination, Full 3D rotation, Thermal vision mode, Creative sandbox experience, Educational element reactions

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Satisfying gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming
- 🚀 Decent graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- 🔒 Forced ads and refills
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔋 Limited resources

**Reported bugs**

- Level 50 is impossible to complete
- Certain materials like rock have glitches
- App crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- More materials and elements
- Ability to save and load creations
- Larger sandbox area
- More realistic physics and behaviors


### Solar System Sim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-sim/id6447612221)

Simulate and explore celestial bodies within our solar system and beyond. Create your own solar systems, experiment with gravity and physics, and observe orbital mechanics in action.

**Highlights:** Explore planets and moons, Visit nearby stars, Create custom solar systems, Gravity and physics simulation, Recalculate orbits, Newton's laws implementation

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HD Mars | $2.99 | one-time |
| HD Earth | $2.99 | one-time |
| HD Moon | $2.99 | one-time |
| No-ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| HD 3-body pack | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic simulation
- 🚀 Detailed solar system
- 🚀 Ability to create custom solar systems
- 🚀 Impressive graphics
- 🚀 Frequent updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Saving and loading issues
- 🐛 Unstable orbits

**Reported bugs**

- Planets/moons disappearing after saving and loading
- Bright flashes and screen distortions
- Planets/objects getting stuck inside stars
- Crashes when colliding or editing certain objects
- Inconsistent orbital mechanics and moons ejecting from planets

**Requested features**

- Add more galaxy and nebula textures
- Implement realistic supernova effects
- Allow customization of planet atmospheres and terrain
- Add binary star systems and rogue planets
- Introduce a galaxy maker and collision feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SandBox free?

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

### Is Solar System Sim free?

Solar System Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SandBox or Solar System Sim?

SandBox is rated higher. SandBox averages 4.6 out of 5 from 45K ratings, while Solar System Sim averages 4.5 from 4.1K ratings.

### Do SandBox or Solar System Sim have ads?

Both SandBox and Solar System Sim show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SandBox or Solar System Sim?

SandBox ships an update every 3 months, and Solar System Sim every 3 weeks. Most recently, SandBox was updated on September 25, 2026 and Solar System Sim on September 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.*