Comparison

NASA vs NOAA Exhibits

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

NASA

Explore the universe with access to live and on-demand NASA+ videos, a vast collection of stunning images, and the latest mission news. Discover interactive augmented reality experiences and track the International Space Station's path.

Highlights
  • NASA+ video streaming
  • 21,000+ NASA images
  • Latest NASA news
  • Mission updates
  • Podcasts
  • ISS tracking and Sky View
  • Augmented reality experiences
Features
Read full description

The redesigned NASA App unlocks access to the new NASA+ video streaming service, plus all the latest NASA images, news, mission information, podcasts, and interactive augmented reality experiences to explore -- putting the universe at your fingertips! With the NASA App, you'll be able to: • Explore with unlimited access to NASA+, featuring all of NASA's official live coverage and original on-demand video series. No subscription required. • Easily view over 21,000 of the latest NASA images • Rate images and explore all of the highest rated ones • Read all the latest NASA news and feature articles • Get the latest updates on Artemis, the James Webb Space Telescope, and other exciting NASA missions. • Listen to our podcasts featuring astronauts and experts who take you on a tour of the galaxy without ever leaving Earth. • Set an alert for when the International Space Station will fly over your location and use the Sky View feature to help you locate the station during the visible pass • Experience our rovers and rockets up close and personal with augmented reality. • And so much more! Download the updated NASA App now!

About

NOAA Exhibits

Features
Read full description

Download the NOAA Exhibits app when visiting the Treasures of NOAA’s Ark exhibit (currently at the Navy museum in Washington, D.C.) or the Gateway to NOAA in Silver Spring, Maryland. Access videos, photos, and stories about NOAA’s heritage, highlighting 200 years of science, service, and stewardship. About NOAA The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration formed in 1970, but it’s roots are much older, beginning with Thomas Jefferson and the founding of Survey of the Coast in 1807. Today, NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

Screenshots

NASA4 screens
NOAA Exhibits4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: NASA at every 2 weeks against NOAA Exhibits's every 11 months. NOAA Exhibits's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, NOAA Exhibits every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
NASA versus NOAA Exhibits: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNASANOAA Exhibits
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (64K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews69.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings64K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNASANational Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Bugs and requests

NASA

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on launch for some devices
  • Inability to close/exit image viewer
  • Notifications not working as expected
  • Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add live streaming of NASA TV
  • Improve navigation and search
  • Implement dark mode option
  • Bring back old features (e.g. APOD widget, ISS sightings)
  • Enhance 3D models and AR capabilities

NOAA Exhibits

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

NASA

No in-app purchases

None

NOAA Exhibits

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NASA free?
NASA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NOAA Exhibits free?
NOAA Exhibits is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do NASA or NOAA Exhibits have ads?
Neither NASA nor NOAA Exhibits shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NASA or NOAA Exhibits?
NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, and NOAA Exhibits every 11 months. Most recently, NASA was updated on October 31, 2026 and NOAA Exhibits on October 27, 2026.

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