Deep Time Audio Description vs Smithsonian
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Deep Time Audio Description
Explore the Smithsonian Fossil Hall with a self-guided audio tour designed for blind and low-vision users. Learn about evolution, ecosystems, and the interconnectedness of life from its origins to the Age of Humans. Features include screen reader compatibility, alt text, and zoomable text.
- Screen Reader compatible
- Background contrast
- Alt text and captions
- Zoomable text
- Search feature
- Audio descriptions of exhibits
Read full descriptionHide full description
Assistive technology for blind and low-vision users to explore the new Fossil Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History through a self-guided tour. Discover how all life is connected–past, present, and future–to all other life and to the Earth itself. Learn more about evolution, ecosystems, and extinction from the beginning of life 3.7 billion years ago to the Age of Humans today. Features: • Screen Reader compatible • Background contrast • Alt text and captions for all images • Zoomable text • Search feature This app contains descriptive overviews of: • tactile models • iconic specimens such as T. rex • multimedia videos and interactives • content stories Download ahead of time to plan your visit, follow along in the gallery, or read afterwards. The app uses the accessibility features native to your phone. By downloading this mobile app, you agree to the Smithsonian’s Privacy Policy (http://si.edu/privacy) NOTE: WiFi is available in all Smithsonian museums.
Smithsonian
Explore the solar system with interactive games and animations. Learn fascinating facts about planets, moons, and the asteroid belt. Designed for curious young minds to introduce astronomy basics.
- Fascinating facts about the solar system
- Mini games like Space Winter Rush
- Interactive activities
- Educational animations
- Read to Me text
- Collect planet badges
Read full descriptionHide full description
Join us on an exciting voyage through the solar system! Play, touch, read. and learn facts about the 8 planets in our solar system in this new app from The ©Smithsonian and PlayDate Digital. Designed for curious minds, this app features brilliantly illustrated animations which are sure to engage and entertain. Why is Mars called the Red Planet? Which is the brightest Planet? How many moons does Neptune have? What is the Asteroid Belt? Explore Planets, learn facts, and play games as you rocket through the solar system. Your space enthusiast will love learning all about the wonders of space and the universe. The mini games reinforce the learnings and interactive activities will keep kids engaged. Features: • Lots of fascinating facts about our solar system, its planets, and more! • Featuring mini games including Space Winter Rush, Comet Ceasefire, Solar System Sorting, Gas Planets and more! • Over 10 other interactive activities related to your space adventure. • Educational content and animations will entertain and engage while teaching simple astronomy basics. • ‘Read to Me’ text • Collect solar system and planet badges as you complete each level Planets and the Solar System from ©Smithsonian Kids is designed to deliver on these Learning Goals: • STEM: Introduce young learners to astronomy and science methods. • STEM: Expand young learners' curiosity and knowledge of the world around them. • Counting and Quantifying: Identify and organize groups of objects logically. • Visual Discrimination: Distinguish between different shapes, sizes, colors. • Visual Memory: Remembering and recalling visual information. • Color Recognition and Differentiation: Identifying and naming colors. • Shape Recognition and Classification: Identifying objects based on different shapes. ABOUT THE SMITHSONIAN The ©Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, dedicated to public education, national service, and scholarship in the arts, ©Smithsonian sciences, and history. The name of the ©Smithsonian Institution and the sunburst logo are registered trademarks of the ©Smithsonian Institution. For more information, please visit www.si.edu ABOUT PLAYDATE DIGITAL PlayDate Digital Inc. is a publisher of high-quality, interactive, mobile educational software for children. PlayDate Digital's products nurture children's emerging literacy and creativity skills by turning digital screens into engaging experiences. PlayDate Digital content is built in partnership with some of the world's most trusted global brands for kids. Visit us: playdatedigital.com Like us: facebook.com/playdatedigital Follow us: @playdatedigital Watch all our app trailers: youtube.com/PlayDateDigital1 HAVE QUESTIONS? We'd love to hear from you! Your questions suggestions and comments are always welcome. Contact us 24/7 at info@playdatedigital.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Deep Time Audio Description at none against Smithsonian's 2. Deep Time Audio Description also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Smithsonian sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Deep Time Audio Description asks for nothing beyond the download.
Deep Time Audio Description ships an update every 6 days, Smithsonian every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Deep Time Audio Description | Smithsonian |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 285 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Smithsonian Institution | PlayDate Digital Inc. |
Customer experience
Deep Time Audio Description
Smithsonian
In-app purchases
Deep Time Audio Description
No in-app purchases
Smithsonian
- Remove Ads$1.99
- Buy 5 Planets$2.99
Questions
Is Deep Time Audio Description free?
Is Smithsonian free?
Do Deep Time Audio Description or Smithsonian have ads?
Which is updated more often, Deep Time Audio Description or Smithsonian?
Other comparisons















