Comparison

Heliosphere vs CosmicObserver

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

Head to head
About

Heliosphere

Explore a real-time 3D simulation of the solar system, planets, moons, and spacecraft using accurate astronomical data. Learn about celestial bodies and space missions with educational content and quizzes.

Highlights
  • Real-time 3D solar system simulation
  • Live spacecraft tracking
  • Deep sky exploration
  • Comprehensive astronomy education
  • Time travel from 1900 to 2100
  • Planet-centric viewing mode
Features
Read full description

Explore the solar system at your fingertips. Heliosphere is a real-time 3D solar system simulation powered by NASA JPL Horizons data. It accurately recreates the orbits of planets, moons, comets, and dwarf planets while tracking the real positions of active spacecraft. * Real-time 3D Solar System Simulation — 8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, 10+ moons, and 4 comets — Precise Keplerian orbit calculations based on real astronomical data — Time travel from 1900 to 2100 — Pan, zoom, and rotate for a free-roaming perspective — Switch to planet-centric viewing mode * Live Spacecraft Tracking — Voyager 1, 2 | Pioneer 10, 11 — Cassini | Juno | New Horizons | Parker Solar Probe — Real position data from NASA JPL Horizons API * Deep Sky Exploration — Over 150 bright stars — 530 Milky Way stars — 124 deep-sky objects (Messier, NGC/IC catalogs) * Comprehensive Astronomy Education — 6 difficulty levels from middle school to graduate — Core concepts: Kepler's Laws, gravity, escape velocity, and more — Mission timelines for Voyager, Cassini, New Horizons, and others — 60+ quiz questions to test your knowledge — Historical space event date-guessing challenges * Free for Everyone — All content available at no cost — No ads — 11 languages supported Experience the beauty of the cosmos and the wonder of science through scientifically accurate data and intuitive interaction.

About

CosmicObserver

Features
Read full description

CosmicObserver lets you travel real planets — of our solar system and beyond — from an observer's first-person view. You don't pilot a ship; you drift through space with your gaze and fingertips. Lock onto stars and planets, approach, scan, and record what you observe — space as a journey, not a catalog. ■ Features ・Real astronomical bodies based on public data ・FPS view with a virtual stick for free drifting ・Scientific honesty: observed / estimated / artistic values marked by color and label ・A "Cosmic Passport" and discovery collection ・A daily destination to gently explore the cosmos ■ Cosmic Pass (one-time purchase) The solar system is free. Cosmic Pass — a single one-time purchase — unlocks all star systems, exoplanets, unlimited dailies, and the frontier beyond. Note: Exoplanet surfaces are estimations/artistic renderings, not photographs. This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA. ■ In-App Purchase Cosmic Pass is a one-time purchase. There is no subscription, nothing renews, and there is nothing to cancel. After a new device or a reinstall, use "Restore purchases" on the Cosmic Pass screen or in Settings with the same Apple Account. Family Sharing is supported. Privacy Policy: https://www.rulagems.org/privacy/cosmicobserver/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.rulagems.org/terms/cosmicobserver/

Screenshots

Heliosphere4 screens
CosmicObserver4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Heliosphere at every 3 days against CosmicObserver's every 5 weeks. Heliosphere also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Heliosphere sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and CosmicObserver sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Heliosphere ships an update every 3 days, CosmicObserver every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Heliosphere versus CosmicObserver: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHeliosphereCosmicObserver
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB188 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCHUNGKIL KIMYuichi Okuno

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Heliosphere

One-time3
  • 1 Coffee$2.99
  • 3 Coffees$8.99
  • 5 Coffees$14.99
1 purchases

CosmicObserver

One-time1
  • Cosmic Pass$4.99

Questions

Is Heliosphere free?
Heliosphere is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CosmicObserver free?
CosmicObserver is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Heliosphere or CosmicObserver have ads?
Neither Heliosphere nor CosmicObserver shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Heliosphere or CosmicObserver?
Heliosphere ships an update every 3 days, and CosmicObserver every 5 weeks. Most recently, Heliosphere was updated on October 24, 2026 and CosmicObserver on October 24, 2026.

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