Comparison

DrakeEQ vs Sunlight Hours

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

Sunlight Hours

Features
Read full description

- This shows daylight hours in any latitude on any given day - You can also see some information about each planet in our solar system

Screenshots

DrakeEQ4 screens
Sunlight Hours4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sunlight Hours at Free against DrakeEQ's $0.99. Sunlight Hours also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 months). DrakeEQ's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement 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

Sunlight Hours is free to download; DrakeEQ costs $0.99 up front. Sunlight Hours sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. DrakeEQ asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DrakeEQ ships an update every 5 months, Sunlight Hours every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
DrakeEQ versus Sunlight Hours: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrakeEQSunlight Hours
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating2.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews37.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.516.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB44 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperOnomaly LLCNovaNext

In-app purchases

None

DrakeEQ

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Sunlight Hours

One-time7
  • Coffee$0.99
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Donate $3$2.99
Show 4 more
  • Donate $5$4.99
  • Donate $10$9.99
  • Donate $15$14.99
  • Donate $20$19.99

Questions

Is DrakeEQ free?
DrakeEQ costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sunlight Hours free?
Sunlight Hours is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DrakeEQ or Sunlight Hours have ads?
Sunlight Hours shows ads; DrakeEQ does not.
Which is updated more often, DrakeEQ or Sunlight Hours?
DrakeEQ ships an update every 5 months, and Sunlight Hours every 3 days. Most recently, DrakeEQ was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sunlight Hours on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons