Comparison

Planetary Weather vs Solar Explorer 3D

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

Head to head
About

Planetary Weather

Explore real-time weather conditions on planets, moons, and the Sun in a stunning 3D solar system model. Get daily temperature and wind speed forecasts with accurate data.

Highlights
  • Daily temperature and wind speed forecasts
  • Data for planets, moons, and the Sun
  • Accurate estimates from NASA/NOAA
  • Stunning 3D solar system renders
  • Metric or Imperial units
  • High-quality graphics
Features
Read full description

Ever wanted to know today's temperature on Mars, or the current wind speed on Saturn? Now you can! Check out today's average temperature and wind speed on every planet in the solar system, as well as the most important moons and the Sun, all while viewing the solar system in stunning 3D the likes of which you have never seen before on your phone! Features Include: • Daily temperature and wind speed forecasts for all the planets, important moons, the Sun, and of course, Pluto. • Accurate estimates of daily planetary weather conditions based on NASA and NOAA data. • Correct Time of day for earth and lunar phase for our moon • Beautiful 3D renders of the solar system for you to explore • Metric or Imperial units • Among the highest quality graphics you've ever seen in a solar system application.

About

Solar Explorer 3D

Explore the cosmos with a realistic 3D simulation of the Solar System. Witness celestial bodies, spacecraft, and their movements with detailed surface views and mission replays. Ideal for astronomy enthusiasts and educators.

Highlights
  • Realistic 3D Solar System simulation
  • Detailed celestial body and spacecraft models
  • Surface exploration and landing views
  • Time acceleration for observing motion
  • Mission replay functionality
  • Real-time astronomical data display
Features
Read full description

Embark on an immersive journey through the solar system! Solar Explorer brings the solar system to life with a stunning 3D simulation based on real astronomical data, featuring 60+ celestial bodies and spacecraft. Experience the grandeur and mysteries of the universe in the palm of your hand. Key Features • Realistic Simulation – Explore the orbits of celestial bodies and spacecraft, along with the rotation of planets and moons, in an immersive 3D simulation. • Close-Up View – Observe surfaces and rotation up close, follow moons around their parent planets, and examine detailed 3D spacecraft models. • Landing View – View a realistic starry sky and the Milky Way from selected surface locations on different celestial bodies. • Time Acceleration – Speed up time or run it backward to explore how celestial bodies and spacecraft move. • Mission Replay – Replay selected space missions with trajectory overviews and close-ups of key events. • Surface Features – Zoom in to discover surface features and place names on the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. Professional-Grade Experience • Planet, moon, and spacecraft positions are calculated using astronomical data and celestial mechanics, with information panel data updated to match the simulation time. • Inspect high-resolution surface textures up close and discover the varied landscapes of planets and moons. • Examine detailed 3D spacecraft models, including all five probes that have traveled beyond Neptune’s orbit, and track their speed and distance from Earth as simulation time changes. • Discover historic landing sites on the Moon, Mars, Venus, and other worlds, with details about landers and surface features. • Landing view uses celestial mechanics and viewing geometry to recreate the local sky and celestial motion, reflecting effects such as the Moon’s tidal locking and Venus’s retrograde rotation. • The Earth-Moon view extends to the Sun-Earth Lagrange points L1 and L2, with orbital paths for space telescopes such as JWST, Roman, and Euclid. • Enjoy detailed planetary rings, the Sun’s corona and glow, and sweeping views of the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt, along with shadows and transits. Intuitive Controls • Tap a celestial body or its name label to enter close-up view, or browse celestial bodies and spacecraft in the catalog. • Drag with one finger to rotate the view, and pinch with two fingers to zoom. • In close-up view, use the location picker to choose a landing viewpoint. On Earth, you can also use your current location. • Adjust the speed and direction of time in orbit view, close-up view, and landing view to observe rotation and orbital motion. Whether you’re an astronomy enthusiast, an educator, or a curious explorer, Solar Explorer opens a gateway to the mysteries of the universe. Download now and begin your space adventure!

Screenshots

Planetary Weather4 screens
Solar Explorer 3D4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Planetary Weather at 100% against Solar Explorer 3D's 50%. Planetary Weather also leads on iOS requirement (6.0 vs 16.0). Solar Explorer 3D's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months) and rating (4.2 vs 4.0). On price, ratings volume, 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

Both are free to download. Planetary Weather sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Solar Explorer 3D sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Solar Explorer 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 24 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Planetary Weather's written reviews are positive against 50% of Solar Explorer 3D's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Planetary Weather ships an update every 7 months, Solar Explorer 3D every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Planetary Weather versus Solar Explorer 3D: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlanetary WeatherSolar Explorer 3D
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (11 ratings)4.2 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1124 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS6.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size118 MB833 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTechnospiritsShenzhen Qizhuan Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Planetary Weather

All ratings11 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Solar Explorer 3D

All ratings24 ratings
Positive79.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Planetary Weather

One-time2
  • Gas Giants$0.99
  • Moon Pack$1.99
1 purchases

Solar Explorer 3D

One-time1
  • Premium Edition$3.99

Questions

Is Planetary Weather free?
Planetary Weather is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Solar Explorer 3D free?
Solar Explorer 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Planetary Weather or Solar Explorer 3D?
Solar Explorer 3D is rated higher. Planetary Weather averages 4.0 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Solar Explorer 3D averages 4.2 from 24 ratings.
Do Planetary Weather or Solar Explorer 3D have ads?
Neither Planetary Weather nor Solar Explorer 3D shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Planetary Weather or Solar Explorer 3D?
Planetary Weather ships an update every 7 months, and Solar Explorer 3D every 2 weeks. Most recently, Planetary Weather was updated on October 12, 2026 and Solar Explorer 3D on October 12, 2026.

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