Space Engine Alternatives

Space Engine is described as '- a real-time 3D space simulator, procedural universe generator and visualiser. It lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, starting from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies' and is an app in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Space Engine for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad and Android Tablet apps. The best Space Engine alternative is Stellarium, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Space Engine are Celestia, No Man's Sky, Universe Sandbox and Gaia Sky.

filter to find the best alternatives

Space Engine alternatives are mainly Star Maps, but if you're looking for Open World Games or Action Games you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android, Mac, Android + Star Map, Linux, Star Map, Android + Open World Game and Android + Sandbox Games. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Space Engine.
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Alternatives list

  1. Stellarium icon

    Stellarium

     372 likes
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    Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

    56 Stellarium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    The dance of the planets above ESO headquarters, near Munich.
     
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    12
    Comments about Stellarium as an Alternative to Space Engine
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    11

    I want to explore other Earth-like planets and it only seems to let you look at the night sky.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    guiltypixel
    Negative
    0

    Not an alternative. Stellarium is a planetarium application.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    These don't do the same thing, Stellarium simulates the real sky as seen from Earth, Space Engine simulates interstellar travel, including real but also procedurally generated bodies.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 6 comments
    Space Engine Icon
    Stellarium icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Stellarium is a legitimate Space Engine alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Stellarium is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Space Engine.

    • Stellarium is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Space Engine.

    • Stellarium is Free and Open SourceSpace Engine is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Celestia icon

    Celestia

     131 likes
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    Celestia is an application for real-time 3D visualization of space, with a detailed model of the solar system, over 100,000 stars, more than 10,000 galaxies, and an extension mechanism for adding more objects.

    29 Celestia alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS
    The orbits of a number of main belt asteroids (in brown) plotted together with major planet orbits (in blue).
     
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    19
    Comments about Celestia as an Alternative to Space Engine
    msharvey
    Positive
    5

    It has lower system requirements and works well on older hardware.

    Space Engine Icon
    Celestia icon

    • Most users think Celestia is a great Space Engine alternative.

    • Celestia is the most popular Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Space Engine.

    • Celestia is Free and Open SourceSpace Engine is Paid and Proprietary
  4. No Man's Sky icon

    No Man's Sky

     35 likes
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    No Man's Sky is an action-adventure survival video game developed and published by the indie studio Hello Games.

    21 No Man's Sky alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Steam
    • GOG.com
    • Playstation
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Xbox
    No Man's Sky screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about No Man's Sky as an Alternative to Space Engine
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    You can explore all the planets you want and the concept is very similar to Space Engine, albeit unrealistic (no gas giants, no tidally locked planets etc. it's more "fantasy" than Space Engine).

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Space Engine Icon
    No Man's Sky icon

    • This alternative is disputed. No Man's Sky is a legitimate Space Engine alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • No Man's Sky is the most popular commercial alternative to Space Engine.

    • No Man's Sky is Paid and ProprietarySpace Engine is also Paid and Proprietary
  5. Universe Sandbox icon

    Universe Sandbox

     15 likes
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    Universe Sandbox is an interactive space simulator for Windows based PCs.

    Unlike most astronomy software that just shows you what the sky looks like or where the planets are, Universe Sandbox is a powerful gravity simulator. You can add another star to our solar system and watch.

    14 Universe Sandbox alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Steam
    Universe Sandbox screenshot 1
     
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    1
    9
    Comments about Universe Sandbox as an Alternative to Space Engine
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    it's different enough to warrant buying over space engine, but similar enough where its okay for a comparison. It doesn't look as nice, but it actually has a proper physics engine.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Space Engine Icon
    Universe Sandbox icon

    • Most users think Universe Sandbox is a great Space Engine alternative.

    • Universe Sandbox is Paid and ProprietarySpace Engine is also Paid and Proprietary
  6. Gaia Sky icon

    Gaia Sky

     11 likes
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    3D visualization software for ESA's (European Space Agency) Gaia mission to chart about 1 billion stars of the Milky Way Galaxy.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Gaia Sky screenshot 1
     
  7. Solar System Scope icon

    Solar System Scope

     5 likes
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    3D simulation of the Solar System and night sky - real time virtual orrery and observatory

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Solar System Scope screenshot 1
     
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    2
    12
    Comments about Solar System Scope as an Alternative to Space Engine
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    You can explore the Solar System

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    You have to pay to use it on computer

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Space Engine Icon
    Solar System Scope icon

    • Most users think Solar System Scope is a great Space Engine alternative.

    • Solar System Scope is the most popular Web-based & Android Tablet alternative to Space Engine.

    • Solar System Scope is Freemium and ProprietarySpace Engine is Paid and Proprietary
  9. WinStars icon

    WinStars

     6 likes
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    WinStars uses the latest 3D technology to show the objects of our solar system in a realistic manner. Thus, it is possible to move from one planet to another, to follow a space probe on its long voyage or to observe a celestial event from a place to which you could never go.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Wine
    WinStars screenshot 1
     
  10. Space Simulator icon

    Space Simulator

     Like
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    Space Simulator is a realistic space flight simulator for iOS and Android. It is an open-ended simulation where players can free roam Solar System or reenact historical NASA space program missions.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Space Simulator screenshot 1
     
  11. Orbiter icon

    Orbiter

     7 likes
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    Orbiter is a realistic 3D real-time space flight simulator program.

    Fed up with space games that insult your intelligence and violate every law of physics? Orbiter is a simulator that gives you an idea what space flight really feels like - today and in the not so distant future.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Orbiter screenshot 1
     
  12. Atlas of Space icon

    Atlas of Space

     1 like
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    Welcome to the Atlas of Space — an interactive visualization to explore the planets, moons, asteroids, and other objects in the Solar System.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Atlas of Space screenshot 1
     
  13. Noctua Stellarium Mobile icon

    Noctua Stellarium Mobile

     4 likes
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    Stellarium Mobile is a planetarium app that shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Noctua Stellarium Mobile screenshot 1
    Noctua Stellarium Mobile screenshot 2
    Noctua Stellarium Mobile screenshot 3
     
  14. Cosmonium icon

    Cosmonium

     4 likes
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    Cosmonium is a 3D astronomy and space exploration program. With Cosmonium you can navigate in our solar system and discover all the planets and their moons.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Io transiting over Jupiter
     
12 of 26 Space Engine alternatives