# Element Science vs Orrery

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Element Science at none against Orrery's 1. Orrery's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Orrery sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Element Science asks for nothing beyond the download.

Element Science ships an update every 4 months, Orrery every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Element Science | Orrery |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orrery-a-solar-system/id6788141567/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **26** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.4 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LycheeApps Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1491686290) | [Thu Van Ngo](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782177457) |

## What reviewers say

### Element Science

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-science/id6766123855)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Orrery

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orrery-a-solar-system/id6788141567)

Explore a dynamic 3D model of the solar system with real-time planetary motion and historical events. Features narrated stories, AR capabilities, and educational mini-lessons. Unlock the full solar system with a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** 3D solar system model with real motion, Augmented Reality (AR) mode, Narrated stories and vital statistics, Historical time travel events, Interactive educational mini-lessons, Home screen widget, Cosmic quiz

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Whole Solar System | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Element Science free?

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

### Is Orrery free?

Orrery is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Element Science or Orrery have ads?

Neither Element Science nor Orrery shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Element Science or Orrery?

Element Science ships an update every 4 months, and Orrery every 5 days. Most recently, Element Science was updated on October 14, 2026 and Orrery on October 24, 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.*