3D Solar System vs ioLight Microscope
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
3D Solar System
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.
- 3D & AR Solar System models
- Scientific facts about celestial bodies
- Interactive star map
- Engaging educational tasks and quizzes
- AI-powered planet creation
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Have you ever wanted to hold the Solar System in your hands? Now you can. 3D Solar System turns your device into a window to the planets, constellations, and stars beyond. Solar System in 3D and AR Travel from the Sun to the icy edge of deep space — a planetary journey of nearly 15 billion kilometers through our cosmic backyard. Study planets, moons, dwarf planets, and two major asteroid fields: the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter, and the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. See how tiny Earth looks next to Jupiter. Zoom in on planets' craters, spin Saturn's rings, and realize just how vast the universe really is. Interactive star map for passionate stargazers A complete map of the night sky with gyroscope support. Tilt your device toward the ceiling and explore constellations like a true space explorer — as if you were standing under a real night sky. Learn each constellation's name, its ancient stories, and the astronomy behind them. Learn to identify Orion, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia and discover dozens more. What you can do: ► Study planets — from scorched Mercury to icy Neptune — along with moons, dwarf planets, and bright constellations like a real astronomer. ► Test your knowledge with quizzes, planet order challenges, "True or False", and mythology questions. Learn who the planets are named after, how long a day lasts on Pluto, and what makes a star shine. ► Create your own planet using AI — design it, name it, and explore it. 714,000+ people have downloaded our app. To put that in perspective: that's 79 times more than all the stars you can see in the night sky with your own eyes. Some features may require a subscription. Free version includes: basic planet info, part of the constellation catalog, some quizzes and tests, star map, and AI planet generation (up to 2 planets). Subscription unlocks: full content about the Solar System, full constellation catalog, all quizzes and tests, planet cross-sections, unlimited AI planet generation. Every planet is different. Each constellation has a story. The universe is waiting — and it's bigger than you ever imagined. Explore all planets, learn every constellation, and become the space explorer you've always wanted to be. Start your journey through space today. Privacy Policy: http://educationterra.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://educationterra.com/tos
ioLight Microscope
Capture stunning images and videos of microscopic subjects with a high-resolution portable digital microscope. This app connects to the device, displaying detailed views of cells and other specimens directly on your mobile screen.
- Displays microscopic images and videos
- Captures high-resolution images
- Connects to portable digital microscope
- Shows animal and plant cells
- Displays on tablet or mobile phone
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Displays and captures beautiful images and videos from the ioLight high resolution portable microscope. Laboratory microscopes produce beautiful images, but cost over £3,000 and are difficult to use. Cheap microscopes do not have enough resolution for professional use or teaching. ioLight has developed a digital microscope, with a resolution of better than 1μm, which produces beautiful pictures of animal and plant cells and displays them directly onto your tablet or mobile phone. The ioLight microscope has worldwide patents pending. Please go to iolight.co.uk to buy your high resolution portable microscope. Follow us on social media, @iolightmicro
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: 3D Solar System at 4.4 against ioLight Microscope's 2.5. 3D Solar System also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 19). ioLight Microscope's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. 3D Solar System sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. ioLight Microscope asks for nothing beyond the download.
3D Solar System holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Solar System has 1.7K ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of 3D Solar System's written reviews are positive against 20% of ioLight Microscope's.
3D Solar System ships an update fortnightly, ioLight Microscope every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 3D Solar System | ioLight Microscope |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (1.7K ratings) — better | 2.5 (19 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews — better | 20.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.7K — better | 19 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 347 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Education Terra | ioLight Limited |
Customer experience
3D Solar System
ioLight Microscope
Bugs and requests
3D Solar System
Reported bugs
3 issues- Planets displayed incorrectly
- Subscription charges without consent
- Inability to cancel subscription
Requested features
4 requests- More free content and features
- Realistic planet models and animations
- Expanded content beyond the solar system
- Improved accessibility and usability
ioLight Microscope
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
3D Solar System
- 1 Week Subscription$7.997 Days
- 1 Month PRO3 Days trial$9.991 Month
- 1 month Sale2 Months trial$10.991 Month
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- 12 months sale3 Days trial$14.991 Year
- 6 months$19.996 Months
- Astronomy guide - Sky atlas$19.991 Month
- 12 months3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Astronomy guide - Sky atlas3 Days trial$29.993 Months
- 2 Month Subscription3 Days trial$29.992 Months
- 2 Months Subscription3 Days trial$39.992 Months
- Disable Ads Sale$9.99
- Disable Ads$19.99
ioLight Microscope
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 3D Solar System free?
Is ioLight Microscope free?
Which has better reviews, 3D Solar System or ioLight Microscope?
Do 3D Solar System or ioLight Microscope have ads?
Which is updated more often, 3D Solar System or ioLight Microscope?
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