# Smart Astronaut vs Mars

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mars at 91% against Smart Astronaut's 0%. Mars also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.0) and update cadence (monthly vs every 34 months). Smart Astronaut's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mars sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Smart Astronaut asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mars holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mars has 22K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Smart Astronaut's written reviews are positive against 91% of Mars's.

Smart Astronaut ships an update every 34 months, Mars monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Astronaut | Mars |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-astronaut/id918403080/reviews) | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mars/id1108964305/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 29 MB | 256 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [国财 胡](https://appshunter.io/developer/796061213) | [Pomelo Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/899606172) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Astronaut

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-astronaut/id918403080)

Pilot a fighter plane in a World War simulation. Use motion controls to maneuver, fire missiles, and drop bombs to defeat enemies. Collect ammo, dodge attacks, and avoid radar detection in this skill-based flight combat game.

**Highlights:** Motion sensor controls, Missile and bomb firing, Ammo collection, Enemy radar avoidance, Multiple enemy types, Flight war simulator missions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mars/id1108964305)

Embark on a thrilling space adventure as a volunteer on a mission to Mars. Pilot a jetpack to explore the Martian surface, capture unique selfies, and navigate the challenges of interplanetary travel. Prove the doubters wrong and make history on this groundbreaking expedition.

**Highlights:** Explore Mars on a jetpack, Take selfies on Mars, Avoid Rapid Unscheduled Disassemblies, Discover Martian sights, Volunteer for a space mission

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arnold | $0.99 | one-time |
| Little Martha | $0.99 | one-time |
| Marselot | $0.99 | one-time |
| Nigiri | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ufo | $0.99 | one-time |
| Discman | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kestrel 5 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Eagle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stephen | $3.99 | one-time |
| El Dorado | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming experience
- 👍 Variety of unique characters with different themes
- 👍 Optional ads that provide rewards
- 👍 Offline playability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔁 Repetitive and can get boring over time
- 🔁 Lack of difficulty progression
- 🔁 Duplicate character unlocks can be frustrating

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when taking selfies
- Streak resets when returning to a previous level
- Inconsistent controls and fuel usage

**Requested features**

- Add new planets and environments to explore
- Introduce different gameplay modes (e.g., time trials, challenges)
- Allow players to customize platforms and backgrounds
- Implement a way to revisit previous levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Astronaut free?

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

### Is Mars free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Smart Astronaut or Mars?

Mars is rated higher. Smart Astronaut averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Mars averages 4.8 from 22K ratings.

### Do Smart Astronaut or Mars have ads?

Mars shows ads; Smart Astronaut does not.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Astronaut or Mars?

Smart Astronaut ships an update every 34 months, and Mars monthly. Most recently, Smart Astronaut was updated on September 13, 2026 and Mars on September 26, 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.*