# Planet simulation vs Idle Universe

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Planet simulation at none against Idle Universe's 7. Planet simulation also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 65%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Idle Universe's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months) and rating (4.3 vs 3.9). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Universe sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Planet simulation asks for nothing beyond the download.

Idle Universe holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Idle Universe has 1.5K ratings behind it against 165, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Planet simulation's written reviews are positive against 65% of Idle Universe's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Planet simulation ships an update every 8 months, Idle Universe every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Planet simulation | Idle Universe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-simulation/id356146219/reviews) | **[4.3 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 165 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.3% of reviews** | 65.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 297 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DAN-BALL](https://appshunter.io/developer/348592290) | [Dominik Stallmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195110093) |

## What reviewers say

### Planet simulation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-simulation/id356146219)

Design and build your own solar system with various stars. Explore the fascinating world of gravity and recreate celestial bodies. A relaxing game for your spare time.

**Highlights:** Create your own solar system, Simulate gravity, Design with various stars, Reproduce celestial bodies, Relaxing gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic gravity simulation
- 👍 Fun to mess around with
- 🎨 Visually appealing
- 🤖 Good for learning about planetary motion

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Planets often crash into the sun
- 🔍 Limited features and customization options
- 📢 Distracting ads
- 🤯 Confusing controls and UI

**Reported bugs**

- Planets sometimes disappear or behave erratically
- App crashes or freezes occasionally
- Scaling and scrolling issues

**Requested features**

- Add more celestial objects (black holes, supernovas, etc.)
- Allow for more complex orbits and binary systems
- Implement a save/load feature for solar systems
- Add a tutorial or help section
- Integrate with educational resources on astronomy


### Idle Universe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094)

Tap to gather matter and create interstellar objects, from particles to galaxies. Objects automatically generate more matter, allowing for endless universe expansion. Unlock divine powers, upgrade objects, and utilize special abilities to grow your cosmic creation.

**Highlights:** Create 31 interstellar objects, Unlock 24 Divine Powers, Upgrade objects with multiple options, Obtain Dark Matter for special abilities, Gain Antimatter via prestige for permanent upgrades, Compete on leaderboards, Earn daily rewards and achievements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 250 Dark Matter | $3.99 | one-time |
| Double Antimatter Gains | $4.99 | one-time |
| +100% Transcendence Exp | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove All Ads | $8.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Dark Matter | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Dark Matter | $24.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Dark Matter | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Organized and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient progression system
- 💡 Unique and engaging concept
- 🎨 Good graphics and visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔋 Slow progress without watching ads
- 🤖 Forced Google account login
- 🔍 Unclear game mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Prestige button not working
- Ads not providing expected rewards
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Incorrect offline progress tracking

**Requested features**

- Offline progress tracking
- More prestige layers and upgrades
- Better optimization for larger screens
- Improved tutorial and explanations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Planet simulation free?

Planet simulation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Idle Universe free?

Idle Universe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Planet simulation or Idle Universe?

Idle Universe is rated higher. Planet simulation averages 3.9 out of 5 from 165 ratings, while Idle Universe averages 4.3 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Planet simulation or Idle Universe have ads?

Both Planet simulation and Idle Universe show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Planet simulation or Idle Universe?

Planet simulation ships an update every 8 months, and Idle Universe every 3 weeks. Most recently, Planet simulation was updated on October 9, 2026 and Idle Universe on October 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*