Comparison

Solar Explorer 3D vs Notes

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

Head to head
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
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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!

About

Notes

Features
Read full description

Create HTML and Markdown learning documents with AI, or import materials in formats such as HTML, Markdown, PDF, and images. While reading, you can highlight, annotate, and organize key information with ease. Important content can be converted into memory cards with one tap, and AI can also help you generate cards or create card decks automatically, turning scattered learning materials into a structured personal knowledge base that is easy to manage, revisit, and build upon. With organized categories, interactive cards, data charts, and check-in records, you can clearly track your learning process and make every moment of reading, organizing, and accumulating knowledge visible.

Screenshots

Solar Explorer 3D4 screens
Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Notes at none against Solar Explorer 3D's 1. Notes also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Solar Explorer 3D's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support 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 Explorer 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Solar Explorer 3D ships an update every 2 weeks, Notes every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Solar Explorer 3D versus Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSolar Explorer 3DNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (24 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings24 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size833 MB146 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd.磊 石

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Solar Explorer 3D

One-time1
  • Premium Edition$3.99
None

Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Solar Explorer 3D free?
Solar Explorer 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notes free?
Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Solar Explorer 3D or Notes have ads?
Neither Solar Explorer 3D nor Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Solar Explorer 3D or Notes?
Solar Explorer 3D ships an update every 2 weeks, and Notes every 5 days. Most recently, Solar Explorer 3D was updated on October 12, 2026 and Notes on October 7, 2026.

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