Comparison

DifCal vs Solar Orrery

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

Head to head
About

DifCal

Features
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Calculate diffraction angles for a particular crystal with a defined orientation matrix. New crystals can be added to the database. Energy/wavelength can be changed. Currently knows about 4-circle, Z-Axis and Theta-Theta diffractometers as well as 2-circle, powder and amorphous diffraction modes. Current crystals include silicon, diamond, GaAs, Muscovite (mica), graphite, many 3-5 and 2-6 crystals. There are separate screens for setting the crystal (or creating a new one), defining the orientation matrix, defining the diffractometer mode, and calculating either angles, given h,k,l, or hkl given a set of angles. With the larger screen of the iPad all the controls are visible on a single page.

About

Solar Orrery

Explore a real-time, interactive model of our solar system and the night sky. Journey through planets, moons, stars, and constellations with cinematic visuals and intuitive controls. Track celestial objects and experience the vastness of space.

Highlights
  • Interactive solar system model
  • Real-time orbital data
  • 41,000+ stars and constellations
  • Time controls for simulation
  • Touch-first camera controls
  • Colorblind-accessible themes
  • Live celestial object feeds
Features
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Orrery is an interactive, real-time model of the solar system and the nearby sky, built for curiosity and wonder. Start with a cinematic opening from deep space to Earth, then move freely through planets, moons, constellations, and live orbital data. Features: - Cinematic opening tour from deep space to Earth - Interactive planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft - 41,000+ stars and 88 constellation line patterns - Time controls from real time to accelerated simulation - Touch-first camera: orbit, zoom, and focus, then drill into a planet's moons - An ambient tour that drifts through the system on its own - Colorblind-accessible themes - Live feeds for near-Earth objects, solar wind, and satellite positions Built for learners, stargazers, educators, and anyone who wants to feel the scale and motion of the solar system. Questions or feedback: luke@lukesteuber.com

Screenshots

DifCal4 screens
Solar Orrery4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Solar Orrery at every 3 weeks against DifCal's every 15 months. DifCal's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DifCal ships an update every 15 months, Solar Orrery every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
DifCal versus Solar Orrery: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDifCalSolar Orrery
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSean BrennanLanguageCraft

In-app purchases

None

DifCal

No in-app purchases

None

Solar Orrery

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DifCal free?
DifCal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Solar Orrery free?
Solar Orrery is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do DifCal or Solar Orrery have ads?
Neither DifCal nor Solar Orrery shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DifCal or Solar Orrery?
DifCal ships an update every 15 months, and Solar Orrery every 3 weeks. Most recently, DifCal was updated on November 1, 2026 and Solar Orrery on October 31, 2026.

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