Comparison

Solar System Sim vs Sandbox

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

Head to head
About

Solar System Sim

Explore the vastness of space, from planet surfaces to distant galaxies. This real-time gravity sandbox allows you to build and reshape entire solar systems using real astronomical data and physics. Experience the scale of the universe and witness cosmic events firsthand.

Highlights
  • Real-time gravity simulation
  • Build custom solar systems
  • First-person planet landing
  • Sculpt particle rings
  • Witness real eclipses
  • Explore nearby stars
Features
Read full description

Zoom from a planet's surface out to distant galaxies, then reshape the whole system with your own hands. Solar System Sim is a real-time gravity sandbox built on Newton's laws and real astronomical data. Every body you add, move or destroy recalculates the orbits of everything else, live. • Smash worlds together: impact craters carve into the surface, firestorms sweep the globe, and glowing debris rains back down. • Build your own universe: add planets, moons, asteroids and comets with their own size, mass and looks, or customise the ones already there. • Land anywhere: drop to a first-person view on any planet's surface and experience its environment. • Sculpt rings: add particle rings and watch gravity shape them in real time. • Witness real eclipses: solar and lunar, with real-world astronomical precision. • Follow comets: watch them streak past and interact with the bodies they meet. • Leave the Solar System: travel to remarkable nearby stars and find them within the Milky Way. • Feel the scale: see the true vastness of space, from a pebble-sized moon to the nearest galaxies. Whether you're here to learn how gravity really works or just to break planets with it, explore at your own pace. Start your cosmic adventure with Solar System Sim.

About

Sandbox

Experiment with elements, powder, and chemical reactions to discover new materials in this ultimate sandbox. Mix, explore, and unleash the power of physics and chemistry to create landscapes, structures, or entire ecosystems. Test the laws of science and build or destroy your world.

Highlights
  • Mix and combine elements
  • Discover new materials
  • Realistic physics simulator
  • Create landscapes and structures
  • Experiment with powder and chemistry
  • Endless possibilities
Features
Read full description

Sandbox: Powder Alchemy – Mix, Create & Experiment! Enter the world of alchemy, science, and chemistry in this ultimate sandbox! Experiment with elements, powder, and chemical reactions to discover new materials. In this playground sandbox, every interaction creates something new—mix, explore, and unleash the power of physics! Mix, Experiment & Discover New Elements Combine fire, water, earth, and air to explore endless possibilities. Just like in Little Alchemy, you can mix different elements and powder to trigger amazing chemistry and physics reactions. Experiment with different materials and watch your creations come to life! The Ultimate Physics & Chemistry Playground Test the laws of science, physics, and alchemy as you create explosive chain reactions. Watch how powder, elements, and chemistry interact in real time. Melt metal, freeze water, or set fire to your sandbox—this is the perfect place to experiment and create! Unlock the Secrets of Alchemy & Science In this sandbox playground, everything reacts realistically. Mix powder with different elements to see unexpected results. Heat materials until they melt, create powerful reactions, or turn sand into glass using the power of chemistry and physics. Explore, experiment, and build! Build & Experiment in a Living World Use elements and powder to create landscapes, structures, or even entire ecosystems. Play in your own world box, conduct crazy chemistry experiments, or mix different materials to see what happens. Whether you want to build or destroy, the power is in your hands! Why Sandbox: Powder Alchemy? - Ultimate alchemy sandbox – mix, combine & discover new elements and powder - Realistic physics simulator – explore science, chemistry, and physics reactions - Endless experiments – play with powder, fire, water, earth, and air - Playground sandbox – test the limits of alchemy, chemistry, and physics - Create and destroy – shape the world or watch it crumble into powder! Mix, create, and experiment with elements and powder in the ultimate sandbox!

Screenshots

Solar System Sim4 screens
Sandbox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Solar System Sim at 81% against Sandbox's 31%. Solar System Sim also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). Sandbox's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (26K vs 4.5K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Solar System Sim sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Sandbox sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sandbox holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sandbox has 26K ratings behind it against 4.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Solar System Sim's written reviews are positive against 31% of Sandbox's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Solar System Sim ships an update every 4 days, Sandbox monthly. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Solar System Sim versus Sandbox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSolar System SimSandbox
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4.5K ratings)4.7 (26K ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.9% of reviews — better31.4% of reviews
Number of ratings4.5K26K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterMonthly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size527 MB263 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWPCINWAVE STUDIO

Customer experience

Solar System Sim

All ratings4,401 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral5.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews1,245 reviews
Positive80.9%
Neutral9.4%
Negative9.7%

Sandbox

All ratings26,332 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral2.5%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews1,013 reviews
Positive31.4%
Neutral11.8%
Negative56.8%

User reviews

Solar System Sim

From 4.5K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Sandbox

From 26K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Engaging gameplay
  • 🚀 Lots of elements to experiment with

Room to improve

  • 🚫 Excessive number of ads
  • 🔌 Requires internet connection to play
  • ⏱️ Ads disrupt gameplay flow

Bugs and requests

Solar System Sim

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

10 requests
  • 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
Show 5 more
  • Implement a reverse time lapse option
  • Add more speed options (128x, 256x, etc.)
  • Introduce a population counter and life simulation for planets
  • Allow custom city lights and vegetation on planets
  • Add a Roche limit feature to observe tidal disruption

Sandbox

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes when switching between elements
  • Certain elements not functioning as expected

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add more elements and creatures
  • Offline play mode
  • Reduce ad frequency or offer ad-free option

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Solar System Sim

One-time5
  • HD Mars$2.99
  • HD Earth$2.99
  • HD Moon$2.99
Show 2 more
  • No-ads$3.99
  • HD 3-body pack$6.99
10 purchases

Sandbox

One-time10
  • Cash Package Mini$0.99
  • Vip Package - Discount$1.99
  • No Ads$2.99
Show 7 more
  • Cash Package Small$2.99
  • Vip Package$3.99
  • Premium One Time Offer$4.99
  • Destruction Package$4.99
  • Life Package$4.99
  • Chemical Package$4.99
  • Premium Package$9.99

Questions

Is Solar System Sim free?
Solar System Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sandbox free?
Sandbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Solar System Sim or Sandbox?
Sandbox is rated higher. Solar System Sim averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4.5K ratings, while Sandbox averages 4.7 from 26K ratings.
Do Solar System Sim or Sandbox have ads?
Both Solar System Sim and Sandbox show ads.
Which is updated more often, Solar System Sim or Sandbox?
Solar System Sim ships an update every 4 days, and Sandbox monthly. Most recently, Solar System Sim was updated on November 13, 2026 and Sandbox on November 13, 2026.

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