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 10 alternatives to Space Engine for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad 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.

Space Engine alternatives are mainly Star Maps but may also be Open World Games or Sandbox Games. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Space Engine.

Space Engine alternatives page was last updated

Space Engine

Paid • Proprietary

Space Engine - a real-time 3D space simulator, procedural universe generator and visualiser. It lets you explore the...

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Stellarium
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Star Map
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
54 Stellarium alternatives
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.
- - Stellarium is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Space Engine.
- - Stellarium is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Space Engine.
Suggest and vote on features
Stellarium Features
1. PortableStellarium can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Exploration
Cross-Platform
Comments about Stellarium as a Alternative to Space Engine
This alternative is disputed. Stellarium is still a legitimate Space Engine alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
I want to explore other Earth-like planets and it only seems to let you look at the night sky.
Top negative comment•
11

Not an alternative. Stellarium is a planetarium application.
Negative comment•
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.
Negative comment•
0

It isn't a 3D exploration tool.
Negative comment•
0

is not like space engine u cant explore other planets surfaces
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0

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5 of 6 comments
Celestia
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Star Map
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
26 Celestia alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Celestia Features
1. PortableCelestia can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Comments about Celestia as a Alternative to Space Engine
Most users think Celestia is a great Space Engine alternative.
It has lower system requirements and works well on older hardware.
Positive comment•
5
No Man's Sky
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Open World Game
Sandbox Game
Survival Game
Windows
Steam
GOG.com
Playstation
Nintendo Switch
Xbox
17 No Man's Sky alternatives
No Man's Sky is an action-adventure survival video game developed and published by the indie studio Hello Games.
- - No Man's Sky is the most popular commercial alternative to Space Engine.
Suggest and vote on features
No Man's Sky Features
1. MultiplayerNo Man's Sky offers a game mode for more than one player.
2. Endless gameplayNo Man's Sky offers at least one game mode that allows you to play indefinitely.
3. Online co-opYou can team-up with two or more players over the internet in No Man's Sky to play cooperatively.
4. Single playerNo Man's Sky has one or more single player game modes.
Procedurally generated
Comments about No Man's Sky as a Alternative to Space Engine
This alternative is disputed. No Man's Sky is still a legitimate Space Engine alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
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).
Positive comment•
1
Universe Sandbox
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Steam
13 Universe Sandbox alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Universe Sandbox Features
Moveable Panes
Comments about Universe Sandbox as a Alternative to Space Engine
Most users think Universe Sandbox is a great Space Engine alternative.
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.
Positive comment•
1
Gaia Sky
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Star Map
Mac
Windows
Linux
42 Gaia Sky alternatives
Gaia Sky is a real-time, 3D, astronomy visualisation software that runs on Windows, Linux and OS X. It is developed in the framework of ESA's Gaia mission to chart about 1 billion stars of our Galaxy in the Gaia group of the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut (ZAH...
Suggest and vote on features
Gaia Sky Features
Notifications
Solar System Scope
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Star Map
Mac
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
48 Solar System Scope alternatives
3D simulation of the Solar System and night sky - real time virtual orrery and observatory
- - Solar System Scope is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Space Engine.
Suggest and vote on features
Solar System Scope Features
1. Works OfflineSolar System Scope can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Multiple languages
Comments about Solar System Scope as a Alternative to Space Engine
Most users think Solar System Scope is a great Space Engine alternative.
You have to pay to use it on computer
Negative comment•
0

You can explore the Solar System
Positive comment•
1
Starfield
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Open World Game
Role-playing Game
Windows
Steam
Xbox
17 Starfield alternatives
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
Suggest and vote on features
Starfield Features
Procedurally generated
Cosmonium
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Star Map
Mac
Windows
Linux
10 Cosmonium alternatives
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.
Cosmonium has no features, suggest some!
Orbiter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
10 Orbiter alternatives
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.
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Orbiter Features
Realistic physics
Realistic controls
Realistic graphics
Low Graphics
TerraGenesis
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
17 TerraGenesis alternatives
Engage in space exploration and terraform new worlds in this fun and exciting planet building simulator rooted in real science. TerraGenesis dynamically animates entire planets with changing biospheres, all based on real data from NASA.
Suggest and vote on features
TerraGenesis Features
1. Works OfflineTerraGenesis can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Single playerTerraGenesis has one or more single player game modes.
Interactive Visualization
Terraforming
Free to play
Building game
Mitaka
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
22 Mitaka alternatives
Mitaka is software for visualizing the known Universe with up-to-date observational data and theoretical models. Mitaka users can seamlessly navigate through space, from the Earth to the edges of the known Universe.
Mitaka has no features, suggest some!
Exoplanet
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
iPhone
iPad
11 Exoplanet alternatives
The Exoplanet app is a highly visual and interactive catalogue of all known exoplanets. Exoplanets are planets orbiting stars beyond our own Solar System. It is frequently updated whenever new discoveries are confirmed.
Exoplanet has no features, suggest some!