# Fractal Catalog vs NearLight

The clearest difference is update cadence: NearLight at every 3 days against Fractal Catalog's every 10 months. Fractal Catalog's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Fractal Catalog costs $2.99 and NearLight $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Fractal Catalog ships an update every 10 months, NearLight every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fractal Catalog | NearLight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $3.99 |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearlight/id6766338717/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 4 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yasuyoshi Ota](https://appshunter.io/developer/1500357652) | [Marc Bachmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896278158) |

## What reviewers say

### Fractal Catalog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fractal-catalog/id1529064801)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### NearLight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearlight/id6766338717)

Explore nearby star systems and visualize interstellar distances with realistic physics. Calculate travel times using classic and relativistic models, and witness the effects of time dilation and black holes firsthand. This interactive space simulator is perfect for astronomy and sci-fi enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** 3D space exploration, Relativistic physics calculations, Time dilation visualization, Black hole exploration, Star system inspection, Interstellar travel planning, Multiple camera views

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fractal Catalog free?

Fractal Catalog costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NearLight free?

NearLight costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Fractal Catalog or NearLight have ads?

Neither Fractal Catalog nor NearLight shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fractal Catalog or NearLight?

Fractal Catalog ships an update every 10 months, and NearLight every 3 days. Most recently, Fractal Catalog was updated on October 25, 2026 and NearLight on October 28, 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.*