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, Android Tablet 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.

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Space Engine alternatives are mainly Star Maps but may also be Open World Games or Simulation Gamess. Other popular filters includes Android + Star Map and Android + Open World Game and Android + Sandbox Games. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Space Engine.

Space Engine

Paid • Proprietary

Space Engine - 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.

More about Space Engine

Space Engine alternatives page was last updated Jan 17, 2024

Stellarium
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.
55 Stellarium alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Star Map
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- PortableApps.com
Stellarium Features
1. Portable
2. Ad-free
3. Dark Mode
4. Exploration
5. Cross-Platform
Show all NaN Stellarium features ▾
Stellarium VS Space Engine
Is Stellarium a good alternative to Space Engine?
Comments about Stellarium as an Alternative to Space Engine

Guest
I want to explore other Earth-like planets and it only seems to let you look at the night sky.
Top negative comment •Jun 7, 2017
11
guiltypixel
Not an alternative. Stellarium is a planetarium application.
Negative comment •May 11, 2022
0
Guest
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 •Apr 28, 2021
0
Guest
It isn't a 3D exploration tool.
Negative comment •Feb 8, 2021
0
Guest
is not like space engine u cant explore other planets surfaces
Negative comment •Dec 23, 2020
0
Show more comments
5 of 6 comments
- 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

Celestia
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.
28 Celestia alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Star Map
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- PortableApps.com
Celestia Features
Portable
Show all NaN Celestia features ▾
Celestia VS Space Engine
Is Celestia a good alternative to Space Engine?
Comments about Celestia as an Alternative to Space Engine

msharvey
It has lower system requirements and works well on older hardware.
Positive comment •Apr 12, 2017
5
- Most users think Celestia is a great Space Engine alternative.
- Celestia is Free and Open SourceSpace Engine is Paid and Proprietary

No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky is an action-adventure survival video game developed and published by the indie studio Hello Games.
20 No Man's Sky alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application types
- Open World Game
- Adventure Game
Platforms
- Windows
- Steam
- GOG.com
- Playstation
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox
+8
No Man's Sky Features
1. Procedurally generated
2. Multiplayer
3. Endless gameplay
4. Online co-op
5. Single player
6. Player vs Enviroment
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No Man's Sky VS Space Engine
Is No Man's Sky a good alternative to Space Engine?
Comments about No Man's Sky as an Alternative to Space Engine

Guest
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 •Aug 15, 2017
1
- 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
- No Man's Sky is MultiplayerSpace Engine is not according to our users

Universe Sandbox
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
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Steam
Universe Sandbox Features
Moveable Panes
Show all NaN Universe Sandbox features ▾
Universe Sandbox VS Space Engine
Is Universe Sandbox a good alternative to Space Engine?
Comments about Universe Sandbox as an Alternative to Space Engine

Guest
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 •Feb 16, 2020
1
- Most users think Universe Sandbox is a great Space Engine alternative.
- Universe Sandbox is Paid and ProprietarySpace Engine is also Paid and Proprietary

Gaia Sky
3D visualization software for ESA's (European Space Agency) Gaia mission to chart about 1 billion stars of the Milky Way Galaxy.
43 Gaia Sky alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- Star Map
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Gaia Sky Features
Notifications
Show all NaN Gaia Sky features ▾
+8
Gaia Sky VS Space Engine
Is Gaia Sky a good alternative to Space Engine?

Planetario
Planetario contains a 3D model of our solar system. It will show the horizon and the planets in their path along the sky. The word planet comes from the Greek planetai, meaning "wanderers". Because of the rotation of the earth, the stars seem to move in perfect...
49 Planetario alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Platforms
- Android
- Android Tablet
- F-Droid
+2
Planetario VS Space Engine
Is Planetario a good alternative to Space Engine?
- Planetario is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Space Engine.
- Planetario is Free and Open SourceSpace Engine is Paid and Proprietary

Starfield
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.
22 Starfield alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application types
- Open World Game
- Role-playing Game
Platforms
- Windows
- Steam
- Xbox
Starfield Features
Procedurally generated
Show all NaN Starfield features ▾
+3
Starfield VS Space Engine
Is Starfield a good alternative to Space Engine?

Solar System Scope
3D simulation of the Solar System and night sky - real time virtual orrery and observatory
49 Solar System Scope alternatives
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Solar System Scope Features
Works Offline
Multiple languages
Show all NaN Solar System Scope features ▾
+4
Solar System Scope VS Space Engine
Is Solar System Scope a good alternative to Space Engine?
Comments about Solar System Scope as an Alternative to Space Engine

Guest
You can explore the Solar System
Positive comment •Jan 15, 2019
1
Guest
You have to pay to use it on computer
Negative comment •Apr 12, 2021
0
- Most users think Solar System Scope is a great Space Engine alternative.
- Solar System Scope is the most popular Web-based, iPhone & iPad alternative to Space Engine.
- Solar System Scope is Freemium and ProprietarySpace Engine is Paid and Proprietary

TerraGenesis
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.
18 TerraGenesis alternatives
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application type
- Open World Game
Platforms
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
+2
TerraGenesis Features
1. Works Offline
2. Single player
3. Interactive Visualization
4. Terraforming
5. Free to play
6. Building game
Show all NaN TerraGenesis features ▾
TerraGenesis VS Space Engine
Is TerraGenesis a good alternative to Space Engine?

Ad Astra
Ad Astra is an open-ended space exploration game which has attempted to model a Galaxy of over 110,000 real stars based on the 1997 Hipparcos Star Catalogue. The application supports fractal planets, procedural flora and fauna with uninterrupted game play whilst within a...
4 Ad Astra alternatives
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Platforms
- Windows
Ad Astra Features
Procedurally generated
Ships
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Ad Astra VS Space Engine
Is Ad Astra a good alternative to Space Engine?

Noctua Stellarium Mobile
Stellarium Mobile is a planetarium app that shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars.
40 Noctua Stellarium Mobile alternatives
+2
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
- Star Map
Platforms
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Noctua Stellarium Mobile Features
Dark Mode
Show all NaN Noctua Stellarium Mobile features ▾
Noctua Stellarium Mobile VS Space Engine
Is this a good alternative to Space Engine?

Orbiter
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.
12 Orbiter alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Platforms
- Windows
Orbiter Features
Realistic physics
Realistic controls
Realistic graphics
Low Graphics
Show all NaN Orbiter features ▾
Orbiter VS Space Engine
Is Orbiter a good alternative to Space Engine?