# Space Simulator vs Pocket Galaxy

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pocket Galaxy at every 2 months against Space Simulator's every 5 months. Pocket Galaxy also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 84%) and price ($3.99 vs $4.99). Space Simulator's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Space Simulator costs $4.99 and Pocket Galaxy $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Space Simulator against 4.8 for Pocket Galaxy. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.3K and 10K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Space Simulator's written reviews are positive against 95% of Pocket Galaxy's.

Space Simulator ships an update every 5 months, Pocket Galaxy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Space Simulator | Pocket Galaxy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-simulator/id516849108/reviews) | **[4.8 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-galaxy-space-sandbox/id1214937203/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K | **10K** |
| Positive reviews | 83.5% of reviews | **95.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 1.5 GB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tai Chen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824184739) | [Pocket Labs UK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1214937202) |

## What reviewers say

### Space Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-simulator/id516849108)

Experience ultra-realistic 3D space flight with real physics in a full-scale Solar System. Play historic NASA missions or explore planets and moons with functional 3D cockpits and interactive orbit planning.

**Highlights:** Full-scale Solar System simulation, Historic NASA mission replays, Functional 3D cockpits, Interactive orbit planner, Real physics engine, Ultra-realistic rendering

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pocket Galaxy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-galaxy-space-sandbox/id1214937203)

Design and simulate your own solar systems and galaxies with realistic physics. Customize planets, stars, and orbits, then share your creations. Features smooth 3D graphics and a user-friendly interface.

**Highlights:** 3D galaxy sandbox, Realistic physics simulation, Planet and star customization, Smooth 3D graphics, User-friendly interface, Shareable creations

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Good game
- 👍 Fun and relaxing
- ⭐ Great for space enthusiasts
- 💎 Awesome for creating solar systems
- 🌟 Incredible graphics and physics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy orbits and collisions
- 🐛 Planets disappearing or resetting
- 🐛 Laggy performance with many objects
- 🔧 Difficult to control planet orbits
- 🔧 Limited customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Planets not staying in orbit
- Satellites and black holes causing UI issues
- Textures disappearing in planet selection
- Saved universes not loading correctly
- Inconsistent planet/star coloring after reloading

**Requested features**

- Add more celestial bodies (neutron stars, pulsars, etc.)
- Improve life simulation and terraforming mechanics
- Allow custom planet/star creation and editing
- Implement surface view and spaceship exploration
- Add more advanced simulation features (galaxy formation, etc.)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Space Simulator free?

Space Simulator costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pocket Galaxy free?

Pocket Galaxy costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Space Simulator or Pocket Galaxy?

Pocket Galaxy is rated higher. Space Simulator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Pocket Galaxy averages 4.8 from 10K ratings.

### Do Space Simulator or Pocket Galaxy have ads?

Neither Space Simulator nor Pocket Galaxy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Space Simulator or Pocket Galaxy?

Space Simulator ships an update every 5 months, and Pocket Galaxy every 2 months. Most recently, Space Simulator was updated on October 26, 2026 and Pocket Galaxy on October 29, 2026.

---

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