# xSky vs 3D Solar System

xSky and 3D Solar System both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of xSky's written reviews are positive against 29% of 3D Solar System's. xSky also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). 3D Solar System's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 80). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 3D Solar System sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. xSky asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for xSky against 4.4 for 3D Solar System. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Solar System has 1.7K ratings behind it against 80, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of xSky's written reviews are positive against 29% of 3D Solar System's.

xSky ships an update every 3 months, 3D Solar System fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | xSky | 3D Solar System |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xsky/id850941042/reviews) | **[4.4 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-solar-system-planets-view/id983877380/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 80 | **1.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **79.4% of reviews** | 28.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 352 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleg Sur](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454732575) | [Education Terra](https://appshunter.io/developer/946819038) |

## What reviewers say

### xSky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xsky/id850941042)

Explore the cosmos with a virtual telescope. Point your device at the sky to identify celestial bodies. Zoom in for detailed views and use a search function to locate specific objects.

**Highlights:** Virtual telescope functionality, Identify Sun, Moon, Planets, Stars, Galaxies, Zoom up to a million times, Screen lock to stop motion, Object search arrow, Soft music and sound effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔭 Realistic space simulation
- ✨ Beautiful visuals and music
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 💡 Great for learning astronomy
- 💯 Highly accurate object identification

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashing issues
- 🧭 Location services not working
- 🔄 Inconsistent with reality (out of sync)
- 📱 Not optimized for all devices (e.g., iPhone 12)
- 🎛️ Hard to control

**Reported bugs**

- App keeps crashing
- Location services not working/picking a country
- App closes immediately upon opening
- App is glitchy and moves by itself
- Search button not working in horizontal position

**Requested features**

- Camera feature for high-quality photos
- Ability to turn down exposure for photos
- Facts read aloud about celestial objects
- Traditional constellation names (e.g., Virgo, Taurus)
- Show International Space Station or other satellites


### 3D Solar System

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-solar-system-planets-view/id983877380)

Explore the solar system in 3D and augmented reality. Learn about planets, moons, stars, and constellations through interactive models, scientific facts, and engaging quizzes. Create your own planets with AI.

**Highlights:** 3D & AR Solar System models, Scientific facts about celestial bodies, Interactive star map, Engaging educational tasks and quizzes, AI-powered planet creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month PRO | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 month Sale | $10.99 | per month |
| 12 months sale | $14.99 | per year |
| 6 months | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Astronomy guide - Sky atlas | $19.99 | per month |
| 12 months | $29.99 | per year |
| Astronomy guide - Sky atlas | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| 2 Month Subscription | $39.99 | per 2 months |
| 2 Months Subscription | $39.99 | per 2 months |
| Disable Ads Sale | $9.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Informative and educational
- 🔍 Detailed solar system information
- 🎨 Cool visuals and graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🤔 Misleading 'free' claims
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤯 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Planets displayed incorrectly
- Subscription charges without consent
- Inability to cancel subscription

**Requested features**

- More free content and features
- Realistic planet models and animations
- Expanded content beyond the solar system
- Improved accessibility and usability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is xSky free?

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

### Is 3D Solar System free?

3D Solar System is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, xSky or 3D Solar System?

3D Solar System is rated higher. xSky averages 4.3 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while 3D Solar System averages 4.4 from 1.7K ratings.

### Do xSky or 3D Solar System have ads?

3D Solar System shows ads; xSky does not.

### Which is updated more often, xSky or 3D Solar System?

xSky ships an update every 3 months, and 3D Solar System fortnightly. Most recently, xSky was updated on October 20, 2026 and 3D Solar System on November 1, 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.*