NASA vs Space Gate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- NASA+ video streaming
- 21,000+ NASA images
- Latest NASA news
- Mission updates
- Podcasts
- ISS tracking and Sky View
- Augmented reality experiences
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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!
Space Gate
Explore the universe with interactive 3D and AR experiences of the solar system. Discover celestial bodies, engage with live astronomy news, and even interact with black holes. Tailored for learning and education.
- 3D and AR solar system exploration
- Interactive black hole simulations
- Live astronomy magazine
- Educational celestial catalogs
- Capture and save celestial snapshots
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Explore the Universe with Space-Gate - An Interactive Celestial Journey Discover the Wonders of Space: Dive into an awe-inspiring journey across the cosmos with Space-Gate. Our app brings the mysteries of the universe to your fingertips, offering a unique blend of education and entertainment. Whether you're a curious child, a student with a thirst for knowledge, or an astronomy enthusiast, our app is your gateway to exploring the solar system and beyond in stunning detail. Engage with live astronomy magazine: Dive into the cosmos with our app's magazine feature—your portal to the latest astronomy news, riveting space exploration stories, and learning progress, all in one place. Stunning 3D and AR Experiences: Experience the solar system like never before! With breathtaking 3D and advanced AR technology, you can navigate through the orbits of planets, witness the dance of their moons, and marvel at the beauty of our universe in high resolution. Our app isn't just a visual treat; it's a journey that brings the galaxy to life. Interact with Black Holes: Ever wondered what it’s like to interact with a black hole? Our innovative feature lets you manipulate the fabric of space-time, offering an immersive and educational experience. Using latest technologies, witness how black holes bend time, space, and even light at the touch of your finger. Educational Catalogs & Snapshots: Explore our extensive catalogs filled with fascinating information about each celestial body. Capture and save breathtaking celestial scenes, perfect for wallpapers or sharing your space exploration with friends. Tailored for Learning: Perfect for educators and parents, our app is an invaluable tool for teaching. From young minds to advanced learners. The app offers premium features as subscription plans and in app purchases. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, at the rate of your selected plan. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. During the free trial period, you can enjoy full access to all the app's features. If you decide to subscribe during the trial, any unused portion of the free trial period will be forfeited. For more information, please read terms of use: https://alpinebytes.ucraft.site/space-gate
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: NASA at Free against Space Gate's $12.99. NASA also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (64K vs 200). Space Gate's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 70%). On rating, update cadence, ads and iOS requirement 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
NASA is free to download; Space Gate costs $12.99 up front. Space Gate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. NASA asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for NASA against 4.8 for Space Gate. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NASA has 64K ratings behind it against 200, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of NASA's written reviews are positive against 86% of Space Gate's.
NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, Space Gate weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NASA | Space Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) — better | 4.8 (200 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | 85.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | 200 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 156 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Ali Samaei |
Customer experience
NASA
Space Gate
User reviews
NASA
From 64K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast loading
- 👍 Informative and educational
- 🌟 Amazing images and videos
- 💻 Great for learning about space
- 🔭 Comprehensive space information
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 📺 Missing live streaming features
- 🔄 Outdated user interface
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
Space Gate
From 200 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎨 Stunning 3D graphics and visual quality
- 🌍 Immersive AR experience for exploring planets
- 📚 Comprehensive educational content about space
- 🎓 Excellent tool for teachers and students
- 📸 Screenshot/snapshot capture functionality
Room to improve
- 💰 Misleading free-to-play pricing model
- 🔒 Unexpected in-app purchase charges
- 🎮 Unintuitive navigation and UI
- 🐛 Orbital mechanics inaccuracies
- 🌙 Moon tidal locking not correctly simulated
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
Space Gate
Reported bugs
11 issues- Moon not tidally locked to Earth
- Moon orbiting Earth in wrong direction
- Planets orbiting sun in opposing/incorrect directions
- Uranus moons glitched
- Venus orbital speed faster than Mercury
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- Navigation stuck on celestial objects (e.g., Phobos)
- Unable to exit and return to main menu
- In-app purchase restoration issues between devices
- Moon rotates multiple times per orbit
- Difficulty backing out of exploration mode
- Mercury translation error in Turkish
Requested features
12 requests- Ability to set any planet as immobile center point
- More free planets without paywall
- Additional galaxies beyond solar system
- Toggle for planet/moon/star name labels
- Time-lapse function with variable speeds
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- More interactive black hole visualization
- Astrology-related content
- Improved moon orbit accuracy
- Correct planetary orbital directions
- Per-app language settings independent of iOS settings
- More detailed information and content
- True realistic scale mode with disclaimer
In-app purchases
NASA
No in-app purchases
Space Gate
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Annual Subscription3 Days trial$6.991 Year
- Lifetime Subscription$12.99









