# Solar Explorer 3D vs AstroShort

The clearest difference is rating: AstroShort at 5.0 against Solar Explorer 3D's 4.2. AstroShort also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Solar Explorer 3D's advantage is ratings volume (25 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Solar Explorer 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AstroShort asks for nothing beyond the download.

AstroShort holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solar Explorer 3D has 25 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Solar Explorer 3D ships an update every 2 weeks, AstroShort every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Solar Explorer 3D | AstroShort |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-explorer-3d/id6752232739/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroshort/id6779456978/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 833 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838373818) | [Edon Zogaj](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488603658) |

## What reviewers say

### Solar Explorer 3D

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

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


### AstroShort

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroshort/id6779456978)

Explore the entire universe from your fingertips, flying between planets, moons, and even black holes. Dive deep into factual information sourced from NASA, with interactive real-world locations and animated scenes. Offers both an explorer and a kid-friendly mode for all ages.

**Highlights:** Interactive solar system exploration, Detailed planet and moon information, Real-world location exploration, Animated scenes and landmarks, Explorer and Kid modes, Offline functionality, User-submitted feature ideas

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Solar Explorer 3D free?

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

### Is AstroShort free?

AstroShort is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

AstroShort is rated higher. Solar Explorer 3D averages 4.2 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while AstroShort averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Solar Explorer 3D or AstroShort have ads?

Neither Solar Explorer 3D nor AstroShort shows ads.

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

Solar Explorer 3D ships an update every 2 weeks, and AstroShort every 3 weeks. Most recently, Solar Explorer 3D was updated on October 24, 2026 and AstroShort on October 16, 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.*