# Cosmic vs Orbital Simulator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Orbital Simulator at none against Cosmic's 6. Orbital Simulator also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Cosmic's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (636 vs 6). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cosmic sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Orbital Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Orbital Simulator holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cosmic has 636 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Cosmic ships an update every 6 months, Orbital Simulator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cosmic | Orbital Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (636 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmic-watch/id971231853/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbital-simulator-explorer/id6511195732/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **636** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 86.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 194 MB | 247 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Celestial Dynamics AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/997250789) | [Renzo Macedo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1403943580) |

## What reviewers say

### Cosmic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmic-watch/id971231853)

Explore the cosmos with this app that offers interactive tools for celestial navigation and astronomical observation. Visualize the sky, Earth, and solar system from multiple perspectives, and discover constellations, planets, and events in augmented reality. It's a blend of ancient wisdom and modern technology for a deeper connection to the universe.

**Highlights:** Multiple celestial perspectives (sky, Earth, solar system), Augmented reality sky exploration, Interactive astronomical and world clocks, Visualized natal charts (Western, Vedic, Sidereal), Day/night cycles on Earth globe, Celestial navigation guides, Notifications for astronomical events

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $4.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Tools Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cosmic Pro | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Visually stunning and mesmerizing
- 🔍 Excellent for learning about the solar system and celestial sphere
- 🕰️ Useful for tracking planetary movements and positions
- 🎨 Beautiful and intuitive interface
- 🧠 Highly educational and informative

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔧 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 📍 Inaccurate location detection
- 🔍 Overwhelming amount of information for beginners
- ⚙️ Difficulty in customizing and managing settings
- 🔍 Lack of clear tutorials and user guides

**Reported bugs**

- Date and time not accurately reflected in the solar system view
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between different modes and settings
- Difficulty in maintaining user preferences across sessions

**Requested features**

- Add an alarm feature to wake up to different celestial views
- Implement support for Apple Watch and other wearables
- Provide more options to customize the display and information layers
- Include a night mode or dimmer setting for better visibility in low light
- Integrate with other astronomy apps and tools for a more comprehensive experience


### Orbital Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orbital-simulator-explorer/id6511195732)

Explore orbital mechanics through interactive simulations and real-time solar system data. Learn about Kepler's Laws, practice orbital maneuvers, and engage in mission objectives. Ideal for students and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Interactive orbital simulations, Kepler's Laws visualization, Orbital maneuver practice, Real-time solar system view, Customizable orbital parameters, Detailed educational content, Mission-based challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cosmic free?

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

### Is Orbital Simulator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cosmic or Orbital Simulator?

Orbital Simulator is rated higher. Cosmic averages 4.8 out of 5 from 636 ratings, while Orbital Simulator averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Cosmic or Orbital Simulator have ads?

Orbital Simulator shows ads; Cosmic does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cosmic or Orbital Simulator?

Cosmic ships an update every 6 months, and Orbital Simulator fortnightly. Most recently, Cosmic was updated on October 26, 2026 and Orbital Simulator on October 22, 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.*