# Planet simulation vs Solar System Sim

The clearest difference is rating: Solar System Sim at 4.5 against Planet simulation's 3.9. Solar System Sim also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (4.1K vs 164). Planet simulation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Solar System Sim sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Planet simulation asks for nothing beyond the download.

Solar System Sim holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solar System Sim has 4.1K ratings behind it against 164, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Planet simulation's written reviews are positive against 80% of Solar System Sim's.

Planet simulation ships an update every 7 months, Solar System Sim every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Planet simulation | Solar System Sim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (164 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-simulation/id356146219/reviews) | **[4.5 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-sim/id6447612221/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 164 | **4.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 74.3% of reviews | **79.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 512 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) | [WPC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1681830786) |

## 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


### Solar System Sim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-system-sim/id6447612221)

Simulate and explore celestial bodies within our solar system and beyond. Create your own solar systems, experiment with gravity and physics, and observe orbital mechanics in action.

**Highlights:** Explore planets and moons, Visit nearby stars, Create custom solar systems, Gravity and physics simulation, Recalculate orbits, Newton's laws implementation

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HD Mars | $2.99 | one-time |
| HD Earth | $2.99 | one-time |
| HD Moon | $2.99 | one-time |
| No-ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| HD 3-body pack | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic simulation
- 🚀 Detailed solar system
- 🚀 Ability to create custom solar systems
- 🚀 Impressive graphics
- 🚀 Frequent updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Saving and loading issues
- 🐛 Unstable orbits

**Reported bugs**

- Planets/moons disappearing after saving and loading
- Bright flashes and screen distortions
- Planets/objects getting stuck inside stars
- Crashes when colliding or editing certain objects
- Inconsistent orbital mechanics and moons ejecting from planets

**Requested features**

- Add more galaxy and nebula textures
- Implement realistic supernova effects
- Allow customization of planet atmospheres and terrain
- Add binary star systems and rogue planets
- Introduce a galaxy maker and collision feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Planet simulation free?

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

### Is Solar System Sim free?

Solar System Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Planet simulation or Solar System Sim?

Solar System Sim is rated higher. Planet simulation averages 3.9 out of 5 from 164 ratings, while Solar System Sim averages 4.5 from 4.1K ratings.

### Do Planet simulation or Solar System Sim have ads?

Both Planet simulation and Solar System Sim show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Planet simulation or Solar System Sim?

Planet simulation ships an update every 7 months, and Solar System Sim every 3 weeks. Most recently, Planet simulation was updated on September 19, 2026 and Solar System Sim on September 24, 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.*