# DIY Solar System vs Planets AR

The clearest difference is rating: DIY Solar System at 4.5 against Planets AR's 3.7. DIY Solar System also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). Planets AR's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Planets AR sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. DIY Solar System asks for nothing beyond the download.

DIY Solar System holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

DIY Solar System ships an update every 2 months, Planets AR daily. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DIY Solar System | Planets AR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diy-solar-system/id1644242890/reviews)** | [3.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planets-ar-our-solar-system/id6483760783/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 180 MB | 343 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Lawrence Hall of Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/462994550) | [Mayank Raj](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740256034) |

## What reviewers say

### DIY Solar System

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diy-solar-system/id1644242890)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Planets AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planets-ar-our-solar-system/id6483760783)

Explore our solar system with an augmented reality experience. See planets, moons, and dwarf planets come to life in your room or the night sky. Learn fascinating facts and take photos for school projects.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality solar system visualization, Interactive planet controls, Night mode for stargazing, Detailed planet information, Capture photos of celestial bodies, Talking planets for guidance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Watermark | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DIY Solar System free?

DIY Solar System is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Planets AR free?

Planets AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, DIY Solar System or Planets AR?

DIY Solar System is rated higher. DIY Solar System averages 4.5 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Planets AR averages 3.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do DIY Solar System or Planets AR have ads?

Planets AR shows ads; DIY Solar System does not.

### Which is updated more often, DIY Solar System or Planets AR?

DIY Solar System ships an update every 2 months, and Planets AR daily. Most recently, DIY Solar System was updated on November 3, 2026 and Planets AR on November 4, 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.*