# 3D Solar System vs AR Orbits

The clearest difference is review sentiment: AR Orbits at 100% against 3D Solar System's 29%. AR Orbits also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 12). 3D Solar System's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 11). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 3D Solar System sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. AR Orbits asks for nothing beyond the download.

AR Orbits holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Solar System has 1.7K ratings behind it against 11, 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 100% of AR Orbits's.

3D Solar System ships an update fortnightly, AR Orbits every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 3D Solar System | AR Orbits |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-solar-system-planets-view/id983877380/reviews) | **[4.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-orbits/id1470324501/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 29.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 18 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 347 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Education Terra](https://appshunter.io/developer/946819038) | [Turner Thornberry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1393266702) |

## What reviewers say

### 3D Solar System

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-solar-system-planets-view/id983877380)

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.

**Highlights:** 3D & AR Solar System models, Scientific facts about celestial bodies, Interactive star map, Engaging educational tasks and quizzes, AI-powered planet creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week Subscription | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month PRO | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 month Sale | $10.99 | per month |
| 12 months sale | $14.99 | per year |
| 6 months | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| Astronomy guide - Sky atlas | $19.99 | per month |
| 12 months | $29.99 | per year |
| Astronomy guide - Sky atlas | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| 2 Month Subscription | $29.99 | per 2 months |
| 2 Months Subscription | $39.99 | per 2 months |
| Disable Ads Sale | $9.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Informative and educational
- 🔍 Detailed solar system information
- 🎨 Cool visuals and graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🤔 Misleading 'free' claims
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤯 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Planets displayed incorrectly
- Subscription charges without consent
- Inability to cancel subscription

**Requested features**

- More free content and features
- Realistic planet models and animations
- Expanded content beyond the solar system
- Improved accessibility and usability


### AR Orbits

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ar-orbits/id1470324501)

Explore the solar system and understand satellite mechanics through augmented reality. This app simplifies complex astrophysics concepts, allowing users to create and plot their own orbits, making rocket science accessible for learning and homework.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality exploration, Satellite mechanics simulation, Orbit plotting and creation, Astrophysics homework assistance, Solar system discovery

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 3D Solar System free?

3D Solar System is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is AR Orbits free?

AR Orbits is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 3D Solar System or AR Orbits?

AR Orbits is rated higher. 3D Solar System averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while AR Orbits averages 4.9 from 11 ratings.

### Do 3D Solar System or AR Orbits have ads?

3D Solar System shows ads; AR Orbits does not.

### Which is updated more often, 3D Solar System or AR Orbits?

3D Solar System ships an update fortnightly, and AR Orbits every 18 months. Most recently, 3D Solar System was updated on September 30, 2026 and AR Orbits on June 1, 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.*