3D Solar System vs Armillary Sphere
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
Armillary Sphere
Explore the cosmos with this 3D astronomical tool. Measure and record the positions and movements of celestial bodies, and determine sunrise/sunset times and day length. Reconstructs an ancient scientific instrument using modern technology.
- 3D astronomical model
- Measure celestial positions
- Record Sun and star movements
- Determine sunrise/sunset times
- Calculate day length
- Adjustable Meridian, Equator, Horizon, Ecliptic, Altitude
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Armillary is a handy astronomical application for measurement and recording specific times, locations and movement of the Sun and the stars, based on a Ptolemaic model. With this app, we can easily determine the time and position of sunrise and sunset, the length of a day, the altitude of the sun at different times of the year and the position of celestial objects. This 3-dimensional Armillary app reconstructs the ancient armillary sphere with the help of modern technology. The ancient device, believed to be first invented around 200 B.C., had been in use for over 2,000 years in history. FEATURES • This modern-day counterpart can be displayed in any scale and rotated by any angle. • You can make desired measurements by making relevant adjustment of the “Meridian”, “Equator”, “Horizon”, “Ecliptic” and “Altitude” on the app. USER CONTROLS • Touch-screen rotation – Gently swipe or slide fingers for desired rotation of armillary sphere rings • Swipe-touch panel – Swipe fingers on the display panel for desired movement of armillary sphere rings • Pinch-to-zoom – Use index finger and the thumb in a pinch motion to enlarge or shrink the screen as desired.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Armillary Sphere at 86% against 3D Solar System's 29%. Armillary Sphere also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). 3D Solar System's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). On price 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
Both are free to download. 3D Solar System sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Armillary Sphere asks for nothing beyond the download.
3D Solar System holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Solar System has 1.7K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of 3D Solar System's written reviews are positive against 86% of Armillary Sphere's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
3D Solar System ships an update fortnightly, Armillary Sphere every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 3D Solar System | Armillary Sphere |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (1.7K ratings) — better | 4.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 28.8% of reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.7K — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 5 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 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 351 MB | 275 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Education Terra | HKU TELI |
Customer experience
3D Solar System
Armillary Sphere
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
Armillary Sphere
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$39.992 Months
- 2 Months Subscription3 Days trial$39.992 Months
- Disable Ads Sale$9.99
- Disable Ads$19.99
Armillary Sphere
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 3D Solar System free?
Is Armillary Sphere free?
Which has better reviews, 3D Solar System or Armillary Sphere?
Do 3D Solar System or Armillary Sphere have ads?
Which is updated more often, 3D Solar System or Armillary Sphere?
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