DrakeEQ vs Star Exploration
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Drake Equation calculator
- Interactive 7 parameter manipulation
- Beautiful 3D galaxy visualizations
- Galaxene Galaxy Engine
- Educational and entertaining simulator
- Universe exploration
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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.
Star Exploration
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | DrakeEQ | Star Exploration |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.7 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 37.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Onomaly LLC | 振华 许 |
In-app purchases
DrakeEQ
No in-app purchases
Star Exploration
- Full Version$0.99
Questions
Is DrakeEQ free?
Is Star Exploration free?
Do DrakeEQ or Star Exploration have ads?
Which is updated more often, DrakeEQ or Star Exploration?
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