Comparison

Sun Light Hours vs Solar Explorer 3D

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

Head to head
About

Sun Light Hours

Features
Read full description

- This shows daylight hours in any latitude on any given day - You can also see some information about each planet in our solar system

About

Solar Explorer 3D

Explore the cosmos with a realistic 3D simulation of the Solar System. Witness celestial bodies, spacecraft, and their movements with detailed surface views and mission replays. Ideal for astronomy enthusiasts and educators.

Highlights
  • Realistic 3D Solar System simulation
  • Detailed celestial body and spacecraft models
  • Surface exploration and landing views
  • Time acceleration for observing motion
  • Mission replay functionality
  • Real-time astronomical data display
Features
Read full description

Embark on an immersive journey through the solar system! Solar Explorer brings the solar system to life with a stunning 3D simulation based on real astronomical data, featuring 60+ celestial bodies and spacecraft. Experience the grandeur and mysteries of the universe in the palm of your hand. Key Features • Realistic Simulation – Explore the orbits of celestial bodies and spacecraft, along with the rotation of planets and moons, in an immersive 3D simulation. • Close-Up View – Observe surfaces and rotation up close, follow moons around their parent planets, and examine detailed 3D spacecraft models. • Landing View – View a realistic starry sky and the Milky Way from selected surface locations on different celestial bodies. • Time Acceleration – Speed up time or run it backward to explore how celestial bodies and spacecraft move. • Mission Replay – Replay selected space missions with trajectory overviews and close-ups of key events. • Surface Features – Zoom in to discover surface features and place names on the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. Professional-Grade Experience • Planet, moon, and spacecraft positions are calculated using astronomical data and celestial mechanics, with information panel data updated to match the simulation time. • Inspect high-resolution surface textures up close and discover the varied landscapes of planets and moons. • Examine detailed 3D spacecraft models, including all five probes that have traveled beyond Neptune’s orbit, and track their speed and distance from Earth as simulation time changes. • Discover historic landing sites on the Moon, Mars, Venus, and other worlds, with details about landers and surface features. • Landing view uses celestial mechanics and viewing geometry to recreate the local sky and celestial motion, reflecting effects such as the Moon’s tidal locking and Venus’s retrograde rotation. • The Earth-Moon view extends to the Sun-Earth Lagrange points L1 and L2, with orbital paths for space telescopes such as JWST, Roman, and Euclid. • Enjoy detailed planetary rings, the Sun’s corona and glow, and sweeping views of the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt, along with shadows and transits. Intuitive Controls • Tap a celestial body or its name label to enter close-up view, or browse celestial bodies and spacecraft in the catalog. • Drag with one finger to rotate the view, and pinch with two fingers to zoom. • In close-up view, use the location picker to choose a landing viewpoint. On Earth, you can also use your current location. • Adjust the speed and direction of time in orbit view, close-up view, and landing view to observe rotation and orbital motion. Whether you’re an astronomy enthusiast, an educator, or a curious explorer, Solar Explorer opens a gateway to the mysteries of the universe. Download now and begin your space adventure!

Screenshots

Sun Light Hours4 screens
Solar Explorer 3D4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Solar Explorer 3D at none against Sun Light Hours's shown. Sun Light Hours's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, 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. Sun Light Hours sells 7 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sun Light Hours ships an update every 3 days, Solar Explorer 3D every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Sun Light Hours versus Solar Explorer 3D: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSun Light HoursSolar Explorer 3D
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.1 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—22 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB835 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNovaNextShenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Sun Light Hours

One-time7
  • Coffee$0.99
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Donate $3$2.99
Show 4 more
  • Donate $5$4.99
  • Donate $10$9.99
  • Donate $15$14.99
  • Donate $20$19.99
1 purchases

Solar Explorer 3D

One-time1
  • Premium Edition$3.99

Questions

Is Sun Light Hours free?
Sun Light Hours 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.
Do Sun Light Hours or Solar Explorer 3D have ads?
Sun Light Hours shows ads; Solar Explorer 3D does not.
Which is updated more often, Sun Light Hours or Solar Explorer 3D?
Sun Light Hours ships an update every 3 days, and Solar Explorer 3D every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sun Light Hours was updated on September 14, 2026 and Solar Explorer 3D on September 20, 2026.

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