Atom in a Box vs CelestialGuide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Atom in a Box
Explore the quantum world of the Hydrogen atom with interactive 3D visualizations of electron orbitals. This app uses advanced raytracing to show probability densities in real-time, animating and describing 140 eigenstates up to the n=7 energy level. Discover the structure and behavior of atoms.
- 3D volumetric raytracing
- Real-time probability density visualization
- Animation of 140 eigenstates
- Multitouch and accelerometer rotation
- Mathematical descriptions of states
- Exploration of atomic aspects
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Atom in a Box is an aid for visualizing the Hydrogenic atomic orbitals, the three-dimensional states that the electron occupies in Hydrogen, a prime and otherwise unwieldy example of Quantum Mechanics. It interactively shows what the Hydrogen atom "looks" like. Unique among visualizations of Quantum Mechanics, it uses highly optimized code to perform 3D volumetric raytracing through the electron wavefunction's probability density and presents its results in real-time. It animates and mathematically describes all 140 eigenstates up to the n=7 energy level. The app links to an online FAQ, and the atom rotates with multitouch and the accelerometer. The bottom line is: Explore! The user are meant to explore all aspects of the atom, what it is and what it can do.
CelestialGuide
Explore the cosmos with an interactive sky map that displays stars, planets, and celestial events. Point your device at the sky to see a real-time representation of your surroundings, with adjustable visibility settings for stars.
- Interactive sky map
- Real-time celestial tracking
- Adjustable star visibility
- Planet and comet locations
- Eclipse and transit rendering
- Messier Object database
- Virtual Orrery
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Celestial Guide is an interactive database of information about stars and planets. Its basic interface is a map of the sky as seen from any point on Earth at any point in time. The user can manually choose the time and location, or the iPhone's or iPad's GPS and clock can be used to select the current time and location. If the device is pointed at the sky, the map on the screen will be presented corresponding to the actual view in that direction. The star database includes stars brighter than magnitude 9. The user can select the minimum visible magnitude, which allows the map to conform to the stars which are visible to the user based on local viewing conditions. CelestialGuide presents accurate locations of planets and comets, including rendering of eclipses, transits and occultations that are visible from the selected location. CelestialGuide also has a database of Messier Objects. CelestialGuide also includes a Virtual Orrery, displaying the relative position of the planets and comets at any point in time.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Atom in a Box at 79% against CelestialGuide's 0%. Atom in a Box also leads on rating (3.7 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). CelestialGuide's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $7.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Atom in a Box costs $7.99 and CelestialGuide $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Atom in a Box holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Atom in a Box has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Atom in a Box's written reviews are positive against 0% of CelestialGuide's.
Atom in a Box ships an update every 11 months, CelestialGuide every 17 months. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.
| Parameter | Atom in a Box | CelestialGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.7 (7 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 79.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months — better | Every 17 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 10.3 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dauger Research, Inc. | Geoffrey Domm |
Customer experience
Atom in a Box
CelestialGuide
In-app purchases
Atom in a Box
No in-app purchases
CelestialGuide
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Atom in a Box free?
Is CelestialGuide free?
Which has better reviews, Atom in a Box or CelestialGuide?
Do Atom in a Box or CelestialGuide have ads?
Which is updated more often, Atom in a Box or CelestialGuide?
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