# Planets AR vs Solar Explorer 3D

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Planets AR at 100% against Solar Explorer 3D's 50%. Planets AR also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Solar Explorer 3D's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Planets AR sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Solar Explorer 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Solar Explorer 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 25 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Planets AR's written reviews are positive against 50% of Solar Explorer 3D's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Planets AR ships an update daily, Solar Explorer 3D every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Planets AR | Solar Explorer 3D |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planets-ar-our-solar-system/id6483760783/reviews) | **[4.2 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-explorer-3d/id6752232739/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **25** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 343 MB | 838 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mayank Raj](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740256034) | [Shenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838373818) |

## What reviewers say

### Planets AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planets-ar-our-solar-system/id6483760783)

Explore our solar system with an augmented reality experience. See planets, moons, and dwarf planets come to life in your room or the night sky. Learn fascinating facts and take photos for school projects.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality solar system visualization, Interactive planet controls, Night mode for stargazing, Detailed planet information, Capture photos of celestial bodies, Talking planets for guidance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Watermark | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


### Solar Explorer 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-explorer-3d/id6752232739)

Explore the solar system with a realistic 3D simulation. Discover celestial bodies, spacecraft, and surface features with detailed models and orbital mechanics. Compare sizes, replay missions, and view the universe from different perspectives.

**Highlights:** Realistic 3D solar system simulation, Detailed celestial body and spacecraft models, Size comparison of planets and moons, Surface feature exploration, Mission replay functionality, Time acceleration and reversal

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Edition | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Planets AR free?

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

### Is Solar Explorer 3D free?

Solar Explorer 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Planets AR or Solar Explorer 3D?

Solar Explorer 3D is rated higher. Planets AR averages 3.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Solar Explorer 3D averages 4.2 from 25 ratings.

### Do Planets AR or Solar Explorer 3D have ads?

Planets AR shows ads; Solar Explorer 3D does not.

### Which is updated more often, Planets AR or Solar Explorer 3D?

Planets AR ships an update daily, and Solar Explorer 3D every 3 weeks. Most recently, Planets AR was updated on October 20, 2026 and Solar Explorer 3D on October 30, 2026.

---

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