3D Star Map vs Solar Orrery
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
3D Star Map
Explore over 700 stars in our local star cluster in a 3D space simulation. Zoom, rotate, and learn about neighboring star systems with detailed information available on tap. Perfect for research or satisfying cosmic curiosity.
- 3D space exploration
- Over 700 local stars
- Detailed star information
- Zoom, rotate, and move
- Relaxing animations
- Educational content
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Explore the local cluster with over 700 stars around our Sun! Zoom, rotate, and move through the 3D space surrounding our solar system, and learn about our neighboring star systems. Tap on a star for detailed information about it, or just wander through space with beautiful and relaxing animations. Whether you're using it for research or just to feed your insatiable curiosity, the 3D Star Map is here to help you learn more about our place in the universe!
Solar Orrery
Explore a real-time, interactive model of our solar system and the night sky. Journey through planets, moons, stars, and constellations with cinematic visuals and intuitive controls. Track celestial objects and experience the vastness of space.
- Interactive solar system model
- Real-time orbital data
- 41,000+ stars and constellations
- Time controls for simulation
- Touch-first camera controls
- Colorblind-accessible themes
- Live celestial object feeds
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Orrery is an interactive, real-time model of the solar system and the nearby sky, built for curiosity and wonder. Start with a cinematic opening from deep space to Earth, then move freely through planets, moons, constellations, and live orbital data. Features: - Cinematic opening tour from deep space to Earth - Interactive planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft - 41,000+ stars and 88 constellation line patterns - Time controls from real time to accelerated simulation - Touch-first camera: orbit, zoom, and focus, then drill into a planet's moons - An ambient tour that drifts through the system on its own - Colorblind-accessible themes - Live feeds for near-Earth objects, solar wind, and satellite positions Built for learners, stargazers, educators, and anyone who wants to feel the scale and motion of the solar system. Questions or feedback: luke@lukesteuber.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Solar Orrery at 5.0 against 3D Star Map's 4.5. 3D Star Map's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (10 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Solar Orrery holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Star Map has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
3D Star Map ships an update every 2 weeks, Solar Orrery every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 3D Star Map | Solar Orrery |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (10 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 100 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Winn | LanguageCraft |
Customer experience
3D Star Map
Solar Orrery
In-app purchases
3D Star Map
No in-app purchases
Solar Orrery
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 3D Star Map free?
Is Solar Orrery free?
Which has better reviews, 3D Star Map or Solar Orrery?
Do 3D Star Map or Solar Orrery have ads?
Which is updated more often, 3D Star Map or Solar Orrery?
Other comparisons
