# Cosmology vs Galaxy Map

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cosmology at none against Galaxy Map's 13. Cosmology also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (89% vs 80%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Galaxy Map sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Cosmology asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Cosmology against 4.6 for Galaxy Map. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 505 and 600 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Cosmology's written reviews are positive against 80% of Galaxy Map's.

Cosmology ships an update monthly, Galaxy Map every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cosmology | Galaxy Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (505 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmology/id1028872453/reviews)** | [4.6 (600 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 505 | **600** |
| Positive reviews | **88.6% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 190 MB | 613 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aaron Day](https://appshunter.io/developer/1028872452) | [Andrei Nistorescu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1048905386) |

## What reviewers say

### Cosmology

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmology/id1028872453)

Explore the universe with stunning high-resolution images of celestial bodies. Journey through space, visiting planets and their moons, while learning about the evolution of space, time, and matter. Ponder the profound mysteries of existence.

**Highlights:** High-resolution images of planets, nebulae, and galaxies, Interactive space travel to planets and moons, Learn about the evolution of space, time, and matter, Expert narration by Dr. Aaron Day, Exploration of existential mysteries of the universe

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Stunning, beautiful astrophotography images
- 📚 Educational content about space and universe
- 👍 Easy to use and understand interface
- 🎥 Informative videos and interactive features
- 🗺️ Interactive map for exploring cosmic scales

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Image interference/technical glitches
- 📖 Shallow explanations for non-experts
- ⚠️ Limited educational depth compared to NASA app
- 🤔 Big Bang theory focus may conflict with religious beliefs
- ❌ Incomplete sections (Milky Way, Island Universe)

**Reported bugs**

- Image display interference/hacking concerns
- App feels incomplete in certain sections

**Requested features**

- More interactive activities and engagement features
- Text-to-speech functionality
- More detailed explanations for beginner-level users
- Additional sub-categories and content sections
- Regular updates with current astronomical images


### Galaxy Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456)

Explore the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies in an interactive 3D map. Discover nebulae, supernovae, and planets, with stunning visuals based on NASA data. Ideal for education and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D galaxy map, Explore nebulae and supernovae, Fly through planetary atmospheres, Land on planets, Based on NASA data, Available in 100+ languages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Dragon Frigate | $1.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle - SALE | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle - SALE | $4.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌌 Impressive 3D galaxy and nebula visualizations
- 🚀 Spaceship exploration feature with landing capability
- 📚 Educational content about space and astronomy
- 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay mechanics
- ✨ No ads in free version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall for most content
- 🐛 App crashes and fails to load
- 🎮 Poor control mechanics for flying and walking
- 🔍 Lack of zoom functionality or unclear controls
- 🌑 Black holes look too similar to each other

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Explore button shows nothing
- Pinch-to-zoom doesn't work
- App won't load on iPad
- Text displays as boxes in language settings

**Requested features**

- Search button to find galaxies and objects
- More diverse and realistic black hole designs
- AR feature to identify stars/planets in real sky
- More free content and objects
- Exoplanet additions (TRAPPIST-1e, J1407B)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cosmology free?

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

### Is Galaxy Map free?

Galaxy Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Cosmology or Galaxy Map?

Cosmology is rated higher. Cosmology averages 4.7 out of 5 from 505 ratings, while Galaxy Map averages 4.6 from 600 ratings.

### Do Cosmology or Galaxy Map have ads?

Galaxy Map shows ads; Cosmology does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cosmology or Galaxy Map?

Cosmology ships an update monthly, and Galaxy Map every 5 weeks. Most recently, Cosmology was updated on October 2, 2026 and Galaxy Map on September 30, 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.*