# GalacticAR vs Orbital Simulator

The clearest difference is rating: Orbital Simulator at 5.0 against GalacticAR's 4.5. Orbital Simulator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). GalacticAR's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (120 vs 6). On price and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GalacticAR sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Orbital Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Orbital Simulator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GalacticAR has 120 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

GalacticAR ships an update monthly, Orbital Simulator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GalacticAR | Orbital Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galacticar-space-sim-and-quiz/id1666796447/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbital-simulator-explorer/id6511195732/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **120** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 224 MB | 247 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Vielfalt Software e.U.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666796449) | [Renzo Macedo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1403943580) |

## 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

**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 |


### Orbital Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbital-simulator-explorer/id6511195732)

Explore orbital mechanics through interactive simulations and real-time solar system data. Learn about Kepler's Laws, practice orbital maneuvers, and engage in mission objectives. Ideal for students and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Interactive orbital simulations, Kepler's Laws visualization, Orbital maneuver practice, Real-time solar system view, Customizable orbital parameters, Detailed educational content, Mission-based challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GalacticAR free?

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

### Is Orbital Simulator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GalacticAR or Orbital Simulator?

Orbital Simulator is rated higher. GalacticAR averages 4.5 out of 5 from 120 ratings, while Orbital Simulator averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do GalacticAR or Orbital Simulator have ads?

Orbital Simulator shows ads; GalacticAR does not.

### Which is updated more often, GalacticAR or Orbital Simulator?

GalacticAR ships an update monthly, and Orbital Simulator fortnightly. Most recently, GalacticAR was updated on November 3, 2026 and Orbital Simulator on October 30, 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.*