Comparison

Sol Explorer vs 3D Solar System

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sol Explorer

Experience our Solar System from a first-person perspective in your own spaceship. Explore planets, moons, and space probes, traveling billions of miles across the cosmos. Learn about over 40 celestial objects and gain new perspectives on Earth and beyond.

Highlights
  • First-person spaceship exploration
  • Travel across the entire Solar System
  • Learn about 40+ celestial objects
  • Explore planets, moons, and probes
  • View from the edge of interstellar space
  • Size comparison videos
Features
Read full description

Get a first-person view of the planets and moons of our Solar System. Climb aboard your very own spaceship and explore... - It's your spaceship – fly wherever you want. - Cruise across the entire Solar System – over eight billion miles end to end. - Stop and learn about any object you see – moons, planets, and space probes. Over 40 celestial objects in all. - Observe Mars, explore the moons of Jupiter, fly through the rings of Saturn, travel to the edge of interstellar space. - Fly to the distant edge of the Solar System and look back on Earth. - Watch the Size of the Planets video and get amazing perspective on the planets in our Solar System – then explore some more.

About

3D Solar System

Explore the solar system in 3D and augmented reality. Learn about planets, moons, stars, and constellations through interactive models, scientific facts, and engaging quizzes. Create your own planets with AI.

Highlights
  • 3D & AR Solar System models
  • Scientific facts about celestial bodies
  • Interactive star map
  • Engaging educational tasks and quizzes
  • AI-powered planet creation
Features
Read full description

Have you ever wanted to hold the Solar System in your hands? Now you can. 3D Solar System turns your device into a window to the planets, constellations, and stars beyond. Solar System in 3D and AR Travel from the Sun to the icy edge of deep space — a planetary journey of nearly 15 billion kilometers through our cosmic backyard. Study planets, moons, dwarf planets, and two major asteroid fields: the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter, and the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. See how tiny Earth looks next to Jupiter. Zoom in on planets' craters, spin Saturn's rings, and realize just how vast the universe really is. Interactive star map for passionate stargazers A complete map of the night sky with gyroscope support. Tilt your device toward the ceiling and explore constellations like a true space explorer — as if you were standing under a real night sky. Learn each constellation's name, its ancient stories, and the astronomy behind them. Learn to identify Orion, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia and discover dozens more. What you can do: ► Study planets — from scorched Mercury to icy Neptune — along with moons, dwarf planets, and bright constellations like a real astronomer. ► Test your knowledge with quizzes, planet order challenges, "True or False", and mythology questions. Learn who the planets are named after, how long a day lasts on Pluto, and what makes a star shine. ► Create your own planet using AI — design it, name it, and explore it. 714,000+ people have downloaded our app. To put that in perspective: that's 79 times more than all the stars you can see in the night sky with your own eyes. Some features may require a subscription. Free version includes: basic planet info, part of the constellation catalog, some quizzes and tests, star map, and AI planet generation (up to 2 planets). Subscription unlocks: full content about the Solar System, full constellation catalog, all quizzes and tests, planet cross-sections, unlimited AI planet generation. Every planet is different. Each constellation has a story. The universe is waiting — and it's bigger than you ever imagined. Explore all planets, learn every constellation, and become the space explorer you've always wanted to be. Start your journey through space today. Privacy Policy: http://educationterra.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://educationterra.com/tos

Screenshots

Sol Explorer4 screens
3D Solar System4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sol Explorer at 100% against 3D Solar System's 29%. Sol Explorer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 12). 3D Solar System's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 171 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 6). On price, 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

Both are free to download. 3D Solar System sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Sol Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sol Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Solar System has 1.7K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Sol Explorer's written reviews are positive against 29% of 3D Solar System's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sol Explorer ships an update every 171 months, 3D Solar System fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Sol Explorer versus 3D Solar System: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSol Explorer3D Solar System
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.4 (1.7K ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better29.0% of reviews
Number of ratings61.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 171 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size347 MB347 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReason InteractiveEducation Terra

Customer experience

Sol Explorer

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

3D Solar System

All ratings1,689 ratings
Positive85.0%
Neutral4.7%
Negative10.3%
Written reviews155 reviews
Positive29.0%
Neutral5.2%
Negative65.8%

Bugs and requests

Sol Explorer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

3D Solar System

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Planets displayed incorrectly
  • Subscription charges without consent
  • Inability to cancel subscription

Requested features

4 requests
  • More free content and features
  • Realistic planet models and animations
  • Expanded content beyond the solar system
  • Improved accessibility and usability

In-app purchases

None

Sol Explorer

No in-app purchases

12 purchases

3D Solar System

Subscriptions10
  • 1 Week Subscription$7.997 Days
  • 1 Month PRO3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • 1 month Sale2 Months trial$10.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • 12 months sale3 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • 6 months$19.996 Months
  • Astronomy guide - Sky atlas$19.991 Month
  • 12 months3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Astronomy guide - Sky atlas3 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • 2 Month Subscription3 Days trial$39.992 Months
  • 2 Months Subscription3 Days trial$39.992 Months
One-time2
  • Disable Ads Sale$9.99
  • Disable Ads$19.99

Questions

Is Sol Explorer free?
Sol Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is 3D Solar System free?
3D Solar System is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sol Explorer or 3D Solar System?
Sol Explorer is rated higher. Sol Explorer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while 3D Solar System averages 4.4 from 1.7K ratings.
Do Sol Explorer or 3D Solar System have ads?
3D Solar System shows ads; Sol Explorer does not.
Which is updated more often, Sol Explorer or 3D Solar System?
Sol Explorer ships an update every 171 months, and 3D Solar System fortnightly. Most recently, Sol Explorer was updated on October 7, 2026 and 3D Solar System on October 16, 2026.

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