# GalacticAR vs Space Gate

The clearest difference is price: GalacticAR at Free against Space Gate's $12.99. GalacticAR also leads on device support (6 vs 2). Space Gate's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

GalacticAR is free to download; Space Gate costs $12.99 up front. GalacticAR sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Space Gate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Space Gate holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 120 and 202 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of GalacticAR's written reviews are positive against 86% of Space Gate's.

GalacticAR ships an update monthly, Space Gate weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GalacticAR | Space Gate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $12.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galacticar-space-sim-and-quiz/id1666796447/reviews) | **[4.8 (202 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-gate-ar-solar-system/id6474214531/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 120 | **202** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **85.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 224 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vielfalt Software e.U.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666796449) | [Ali Samaei](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721049950) |

## What reviewers say

### GalacticAR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galacticar-space-sim-and-quiz/id1666796447)

Explore the cosmos with interactive 3D models and immersive scenes. Test your astronomy knowledge with over 300 quiz questions covering celestial bodies and phenomena. Learn about planets, stars, galaxies, and more in multiple languages.

**Highlights:** 300 astronomy quiz questions, 121 astronomical topics encyclopedia, 43 interactive 3D models, 16 immersive outer space scenes, 9 main astronomical categories, 6 supported languages

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $4.99 | one-time |
| Support the Developer | $4.99 | one-time |
| Full Version + Support the Dev | $9.99 | one-time |


### 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 GalacticAR free?

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

### Is Space Gate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GalacticAR or Space Gate?

Space Gate is rated higher. GalacticAR averages 4.5 out of 5 from 120 ratings, while Space Gate averages 4.8 from 202 ratings.

### Do GalacticAR or Space Gate have ads?

Neither GalacticAR nor Space Gate shows ads.

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

GalacticAR ships an update monthly, and Space Gate weekly. Most recently, GalacticAR was updated on November 10, 2026 and Space Gate on November 8, 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.*