Comparison

Linux Simulator vs Orbit

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

Head to head
About

Linux Simulator

This app simulates a Linux terminal, allowing you to practice real commands and learn command-line operations. It includes guided lessons, a comprehensive course covering various Linux topics, and adaptive practice questions to reinforce learning. Gamified elements like daily goals and achievements encourage consistent use.

Highlights
  • Simulated Linux terminal with real commands
  • Full virtual filesystem and shell features
  • Guided hands-on lessons within the terminal
  • Comprehensive course with 63 topics
  • Adaptive practice questions with spaced repetition
  • Gamified learning with goals, streaks, and achievements
  • Offline access to all content
Read full description

A simulated Linux terminal in your pocket, wrapped in a lovingly built classic beige computer. Type real commands, get real output, and learn the command line properly: no account, no subscription, no internet required. THE SIMULATOR The heart of the app is a simulated shell running entirely on your device. It has a full virtual filesystem (/etc, /var/log, your own home directory), proper pipes and redirection, environment variables, tab completion, and command history. Over 40 real commands work the way they do on a real machine: ls, cd, cat, grep, find, sort, head, tail, wc, cut, tr, cp, mv, rm, mkdir, chmod-style permissions in listings, man pages for every command, and a working nano editor that saves back to the filesystem. Pipe grep through wc. Redirect echo into a file and cat it back. Break things, then type reset. It is completely safe: rm -rf / is a learning experience here, not a disaster. GUIDED LESSONS IN THE TERMINAL Five hands-on lessons run inside the real terminal, watching what you type and nudging you at each step, from your first pwd to pipes and redirection. Mistype a command and the simulator tells you what it thinks you meant. Commands we do not simulate, like sudo and apt, point you to the chapter that explains them. A COMPLETE COURSE 63 topics across four domains: the command line, system administration, programming tools, and modern Linux (containers, cloud, systemd). Each topic has an animated walkthrough you can replay, adaptive practice questions, and typing challenges where you enter real commands on a keyboard built for Linux (with a dedicated symbol row for | > ~ $ and friends). LEARNING THAT ADAPTS 630 practice questions tune themselves to your level: start easy, advance as you improve. Questions you miss come back at growing intervals using spaced repetition, so they stick. A recommended path guides you topic by topic, but nothing is ever locked: this is your machine. MAKE IT A HABIT Daily goals, streaks, XP, levels from Newbie to Root, and achievements to collect. A progress dashboard on a little phosphor status display shows exactly where you stand. PAY ONCE, OWN EVERYTHING No subscription. No in-app purchases. No ads. No account. No data collected. Every topic, question, challenge, and lesson is included offline. From the maker of textbookoflinux.com. Try the simulator for free in your browser, then take the full machine with you.

About

Orbit

Explore the cosmos with a real-time satellite tracker. Use augmented reality to view satellites, planets, and constellations in the sky. Discover over 15,000 objects and get AI-generated descriptions of their missions.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality sky view
  • Real-time satellite tracking
  • Catalog of 15,000+ objects
  • AI-generated spacecraft descriptions
  • Upcoming pass predictions
  • Historical mission museum
  • Space event calendar
Read full description

Orbit turns your iPhone and iPad into a real-time satellite tracker. Raise your camera toward the sky and watch satellites, planets, constellation lines, and debris appear through augmented reality. Browse a catalog of 15,000+ objects, get descriptions of any spacecraft, and never miss an ISS pass. SKY VIEW Point your phone at any part of the sky. Orbit overlays live satellite positions, planets, and constellation lines directly onto your camera. The ISS and Tiangong space station pulse with a live indicator so you never miss a crewed spacecraft. Edge arrows guide you toward objects just outside the frame. OVERHEAD See the closest satellites in real time, ranked by altitude. Each card shows orbital speed, altitude, and next visible pass time. Tap any satellite for full orbital data, upcoming passes, and an AI-generated description. AI DESCRIPTIONS Every satellite has an on-demand description powered by Gemini AI. Ask Orbit about any spacecraft's mission, operator, or history, right from the sky view or catalog detail page. PASS PREDICTIONS Never miss the ISS again. Orbit calculates upcoming visible passes for objects near you: start time, peak elevation, and direction. Step outside at exactly the right moment. CATALOG Browse 15,000+ active satellites, space stations, weather platforms, navigation constellations, and debris. Filter by category or country of origin. Search by name or NORAD ID. Sort by altitude, inclination, or launch date. MUSEUM Explore historically significant missions, from Sputnik 1 to the Hubble Space Telescope. SPACE EVENTS Curated upcoming launches, milestones, and astronomical events, updated regularly. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Linux Simulator4 screens
Orbit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Orbit at Free against Linux Simulator's $9.99. Orbit also leads on ratings volume (6 vs 1). On rating, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Orbit is free to download; Linux Simulator costs $9.99 up front. Linux Simulator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Orbit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Linux Simulator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orbit has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Linux Simulator ships an update every 4 days, Orbit weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Linux Simulator versus Orbit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLinux SimulatorOrbit
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.8 (6 ratings)
Number of ratings16 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristopher PatonLukas Nagy

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Linux Simulator

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly subscription$2.991 Month
  • Annual subscription$19.991 Year
2 purchases

Orbit

Subscriptions2
  • Orbit Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Orbit Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Linux Simulator free?
Linux Simulator costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Orbit free?
Orbit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Linux Simulator or Orbit?
Linux Simulator is rated higher. Linux Simulator averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Orbit averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.
Do Linux Simulator or Orbit have ads?
Neither Linux Simulator nor Orbit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Linux Simulator or Orbit?
Linux Simulator ships an update every 4 days, and Orbit weekly. Most recently, Linux Simulator was updated on October 28, 2026 and Orbit on October 31, 2026.

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