# 3,2,1 Launch! vs Ellipse

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 3,2,1 Launch! at none against Ellipse's 3. 3,2,1 Launch! also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 79%). Ellipse's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 13 months) and ratings volume (2K vs 4). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ellipse sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. 3,2,1 Launch! asks for nothing beyond the download.

3,2,1 Launch! holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ellipse has 2K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of 3,2,1 Launch!'s written reviews are positive against 79% of Ellipse's.

3,2,1 Launch! ships an update every 13 months, Ellipse monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 3,2,1 Launch! | Ellipse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/321-launch/id6471444553/reviews)** | [4.7 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ellipse-rocket-simulator/id6738509541/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **2K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 78.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1008 MB | 245 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [Starwelds](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895565220) |

## What reviewers say

### 3,2,1 Launch!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/321-launch/id6471444553)

Experience the journey of a spacecraft from selection to launch. This game features 8 mini-games that educate players on the engineering and processes involved in sending a spacecraft into orbit.

**Highlights:** Rocket and spacecraft matching, Engineering analysis, Spacecraft cleaning, Rocket assembly, Fueling process, Orbit targeting

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ellipse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ellipse-rocket-simulator/id6738509541)

Design, build, and launch rockets with realistic orbital mechanics. Explore celestial bodies and experience dynamic physics for a true-to-life space simulation. Ideal for aspiring engineers and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Rocket design and customization, Realistic orbital mechanics, Explore celestial bodies, Dynamic physics engine, Space exploration simulation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Large Parts | $2.99 | one-time |
| Heavy Lift Program | $4.99 | one-time |
| Expansion | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Realistic simulation
- 👍 Fun and entertaining
- 👍 Good graphics
- 👍 No ads
- 👍 Inspires interest in spaceflight

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No delete button
- 🐛 Physics issues
- 🐛 Unrealistic re-entry
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🐛 Difficult to control rockets

**Reported bugs**

- Connected parts don't work
- Staging issues (last stage goes first)
- Fairings don't attach
- Cannot delete after spawning samples
- Detached parts don't detach

**Requested features**

- Add more planets
- Add astronauts
- Add a delete button
- Add more parts (solar panel, battery, antenna, wing, landing leg, chassis, monopropellant tank, docking port)
- Add electricity consumption


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 3,2,1 Launch! free?

3,2,1 Launch! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ellipse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 3,2,1 Launch! or Ellipse?

3,2,1 Launch! is rated higher. 3,2,1 Launch! averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Ellipse averages 4.7 from 2K ratings.

### Do 3,2,1 Launch! or Ellipse have ads?

Neither 3,2,1 Launch! nor Ellipse shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 3,2,1 Launch! or Ellipse?

3,2,1 Launch! ships an update every 13 months, and Ellipse monthly. Most recently, 3,2,1 Launch! was updated on October 8, 2026 and Ellipse 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.*