Teia vs Solar Explorer 3D
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Teia
Explore the solar system with realistic 3D models of planets and their moons. Discover fascinating facts and localized curiosities on planetary surfaces, presented by astronomy experts. Immerse yourself in detailed visuals that make you feel like you're visiting each celestial body.
- Realistic 3D solar system models
- Localized surface curiosities
- Expert-developed astronomical content
- Detailed planetary visuals
- Information on Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
- Over 40 pages of structured content
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Teia is an application that represents the solar system using 3D models. But, unlike the rest of the applications published in the stores, the objective of this application is to show the objects that this system is composed of by teaching perceptible and localizable curiosities on the surface of the planets. What are the rilles on the Moon? And the rupes on Mercury? Does Jupiter have a pearl necklace? Is really there a face on Mars? Why does Neptune have such an intense blue color? Learn every corner of the Solar System with this great collection of features spanning a total of over 40 pages, structured and developed by experts in the Planetary Astronomy field. The models represented have been designed taking care of the maximum possible realism, from the true color of the surface of Venus, to the structure of the ring systems. In this way, you have the feeling of visiting each planet only a few thousand kilometers away. The models represented are the following: * Mercury. * Venus. * Land. * Moon. * Mars. * Jupiter. * Saturn. * Uranus. * Neptune. Application developed by Himalaya Computing and Órbita Bianca.
Solar Explorer 3D
Explore the cosmos with a realistic 3D simulation of the Solar System. Witness celestial bodies, spacecraft, and their movements with detailed surface views and mission replays. Ideal for astronomy enthusiasts and educators.
- Realistic 3D Solar System simulation
- Detailed celestial body and spacecraft models
- Surface exploration and landing views
- Time acceleration for observing motion
- Mission replay functionality
- Real-time astronomical data display
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Embark on an immersive journey through the solar system! Solar Explorer brings the solar system to life with a stunning 3D simulation based on real astronomical data, featuring 60+ celestial bodies and spacecraft. Experience the grandeur and mysteries of the universe in the palm of your hand. Key Features • Realistic Simulation – Explore the orbits of celestial bodies and spacecraft, along with the rotation of planets and moons, in an immersive 3D simulation. • Close-Up View – Observe surfaces and rotation up close, follow moons around their parent planets, and examine detailed 3D spacecraft models. • Landing View – View a realistic starry sky and the Milky Way from selected surface locations on different celestial bodies. • Time Acceleration – Speed up time or run it backward to explore how celestial bodies and spacecraft move. • Mission Replay – Replay selected space missions with trajectory overviews and close-ups of key events. • Surface Features – Zoom in to discover surface features and place names on the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. Professional-Grade Experience • Planet, moon, and spacecraft positions are calculated using astronomical data and celestial mechanics, with information panel data updated to match the simulation time. • Inspect high-resolution surface textures up close and discover the varied landscapes of planets and moons. • Examine detailed 3D spacecraft models, including all five probes that have traveled beyond Neptune’s orbit, and track their speed and distance from Earth as simulation time changes. • Discover historic landing sites on the Moon, Mars, Venus, and other worlds, with details about landers and surface features. • Landing view uses celestial mechanics and viewing geometry to recreate the local sky and celestial motion, reflecting effects such as the Moon’s tidal locking and Venus’s retrograde rotation. • The Earth-Moon view extends to the Sun-Earth Lagrange points L1 and L2, with orbital paths for space telescopes such as JWST, Roman, and Euclid. • Enjoy detailed planetary rings, the Sun’s corona and glow, and sweeping views of the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt, along with shadows and transits. Intuitive Controls • Tap a celestial body or its name label to enter close-up view, or browse celestial bodies and spacecraft in the catalog. • Drag with one finger to rotate the view, and pinch with two fingers to zoom. • In close-up view, use the location picker to choose a landing viewpoint. On Earth, you can also use your current location. • Adjust the speed and direction of time in orbit view, close-up view, and landing view to observe rotation and orbital motion. Whether you’re an astronomy enthusiast, an educator, or a curious explorer, Solar Explorer opens a gateway to the mysteries of the universe. Download now and begin your space adventure!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Solar Explorer 3D at 50% against Teia's 0%. Solar Explorer 3D also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 10 months). Teia's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Teia sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Solar Explorer 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Solar Explorer 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Teia's written reviews are positive against 50% of Solar Explorer 3D's.
Teia ships an update every 10 months, Solar Explorer 3D every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Teia | Solar Explorer 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (7 ratings) | 4.2 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 25 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 615 MB | 833 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Himalaya Computing | Shenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd. |
Customer experience
Teia
Solar Explorer 3D
In-app purchases
Teia
- Premium Package$5.99
Solar Explorer 3D
- Premium Edition$3.99
Questions
Is Teia free?
Is Solar Explorer 3D free?
Which has better reviews, Teia or Solar Explorer 3D?
Do Teia or Solar Explorer 3D have ads?
Which is updated more often, Teia or Solar Explorer 3D?
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