Comparison

DrakeEQ vs Star Exploration

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DrakeEQ

Explore the possibility of extraterrestrial life with a visually stunning calculator based on the Drake Equation. This app allows you to manipulate the equation's parameters and visualize galaxies in motion, offering an educational and entertaining experience.

Highlights
  • Drake Equation calculator
  • Interactive 7 parameter manipulation
  • Beautiful 3D galaxy visualizations
  • Galaxene Galaxy Engine
  • Educational and entertaining simulator
  • Universe exploration
Features
Read full description

Are we alone? We created DrakeEQ to provide a visually elegant answer to the extraterrestrial question, using the intellectually elegant Drake Equation. We coupled this fun calculator with beautiful, 3D galaxies in motion! To help us celebrate 15 years since the first release in 2009, DrakeEQ 7.0.0 now features our Galaxene Galaxy Engine! Use this fun simulator to graphically quantify the number of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations in our Milky Way Galaxy. Travel the Universe and explore infinitely variable galaxies! Just pinch anywhere and tap the targeting indicator. Perform thought experiments with this unique visual tool; it’s both educational and entertaining. Learn about the famous Drake Equation through direct manipulation of its 7 parameters with DrakeEQ. The Drake Equation states that: N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible where: R* = the average rate of star formation in our galaxy fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets fℓ = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point fi = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space L = the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space. Drake Equation. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

About

Star Exploration

Features
Read full description

1. About Star Exploration Star Exploration is a novel and interesting game of reasoning. The star map is divided into multiple star regions, some of which have a planet with a color of red, yellow, and blue. The purpose of the game is to gather three planets of different colors together through movement, and there is only one aggregated planet in each sector area divided from the center of the circle. 2. How to Play a. Move: Each planet can only move up to one step. The blue planet can move diagonally by one grid, the green planet can move left and right or up and down by one grid, and the red planet can move up, down, left and right by two grid. b. Zoom: Click the + - button to zoom in or out on the star map. Drag and drop star map in the blank space. c. Undo: click the UNDO button in the upper right corner. d. Hint: click the HINT button right above.

Screenshots

DrakeEQ4 screens
Star Exploration3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Star Exploration at Free against DrakeEQ's $0.99. Star Exploration also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.5). DrakeEQ's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Star Exploration is free to download; DrakeEQ costs $0.99 up front. Star Exploration sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DrakeEQ asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DrakeEQ ships an update every 5 months, Star Exploration every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
DrakeEQ versus Star Exploration: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrakeEQStar Exploration
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating2.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.515.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOnomaly LLC振华 许

In-app purchases

None

DrakeEQ

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Star Exploration

One-time1
  • Full Version$0.99

Questions

Is DrakeEQ free?
DrakeEQ costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Star Exploration free?
Star Exploration is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DrakeEQ or Star Exploration have ads?
Neither DrakeEQ nor Star Exploration shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DrakeEQ or Star Exploration?
DrakeEQ ships an update every 5 months, and Star Exploration every 10 months. Most recently, DrakeEQ was updated on September 30, 2026 and Star Exploration on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons