# PocketMDS vs Celestia

The clearest difference is rating: PocketMDS at 5.0 against Celestia's 4.4. PocketMDS also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Celestia's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (324 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Celestia sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. PocketMDS asks for nothing beyond the download.

PocketMDS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Celestia has 324 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PocketMDS ships an update every 4 months, Celestia every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketMDS | Celestia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketmds/id713518042/reviews)** | [4.4 (324 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **324** |
| Positive reviews | — | 78.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 545 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christoph Bratschi](https://appshunter.io/developer/713518045) | [林峰 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1186547508) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketMDS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketmds/id713518042)

This application enables users to conduct molecular dynamics simulations. Explore the behavior of Lennard-Jones fluids under different environmental conditions. It's a free tool for scientific exploration.

**Highlights:** Molecular dynamics simulations, Lennard-Jones fluid simulations, Variable condition simulations, Scientific exploration tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Celestia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829)

Explore the universe in real-time 3D. Visit planets, moons, star clusters, and galaxies, viewing them from any point in space and time. Customize your experience with expandable content and detailed simulations.

**Highlights:** Real-time 3D space visualization, Explore planets, moons, stars, galaxies, Accurate solar system object positions, Interactive planetarium mode, Expandable content with add-ons, Customizable celestial databases

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Celestia PLUS (Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Celestia PLUS (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Celestia PLUS (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Celestia PLUS (Lifetime) | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Realistic space simulation
- 🌌 Ability to explore galaxies and star systems
- 🔍 Detailed planet and moon textures
- 📷 Great for taking screenshots
- 🤖 Reminds users of Space Engine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🌌 Limited exploration beyond Milky Way and Andromeda
- 🌍 Flat terrain on planets
- 🔍 Lack of detail on some celestial objects
- 🔒 Paywall for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Milky Way and other galaxy textures not loading properly
- Crashes when using certain add-ons
- Issues with planet and moon orbits not being accurate

**Requested features**

- Add more exoplanets and distant star systems
- Implement terrain generation for planets
- Expand to include more galaxies and the overall universe structure
- Add support for black holes, pulsars, and other exotic objects
- Improve controls and camera movement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketMDS free?

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

### Is Celestia free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PocketMDS or Celestia?

PocketMDS is rated higher. PocketMDS averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Celestia averages 4.4 from 324 ratings.

### Do PocketMDS or Celestia have ads?

Neither PocketMDS nor Celestia shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketMDS or Celestia?

PocketMDS ships an update every 4 months, and Celestia every 2 weeks. Most recently, PocketMDS was updated on September 9, 2026 and Celestia on September 28, 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.*