NASA vs 3
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!
3
Explore the wonders of gravity with this 2D N-body simulator. Experiment with celestial mechanics, create mesmerizing patterns, and customize your simulations. It's a fun and educational playground for anyone curious about physics.
- Simulate gravity interactions
- Explore preset configurations
- Customize body size, color, and trails
- Educational and fun physics experiments
- Create mesmerizing visual patterns
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Explore the Wonders of Gravity with 3-Body - A 2D N-Body Simulator! Dive into the fascinating world of physics with 3-Body, a unique 2D N-body simulator inspired by the famous “3-Body Problem” in physics (also the book series and now Netflix show). Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a fan of celestial mechanics, or just looking for something cool to play with, 3-Body offers a fun and educational experience. Key Features: • Simulate Gravity: Watch as bodies with mass interact with each other, forming complex and mesmerizing patterns as they move under the influence of gravity. • Preset Configurations: Explore stable configurations such as the figure-eight orbit of three bodies, a circular orbit of three masses, or a large body orbited by smaller ones. • Customization: Unleash your creativity by customizing the size, color, and trails of the bodies you create. Tailor each simulation to your liking and see how it affects the system. • Educational & Fun: While the app is primarily informational, it’s also incredibly fun to experiment with. Whether you’re learning about gravitational physics or just enjoying the visual spectacle, 3-Body has something for everyone. Why 3-Body? 3-Body isn’t just a tool—it’s a playground for your imagination. With no specific goal other than to explore, discover, and enjoy, this app brings the wonders of gravity to your fingertips. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or just someone curious about the universe, 3-Body is sure to captivate and entertain you. Download 3-Body today and embark on your journey through the cosmos!
Screenshots
Verdict
NASA and 3 both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of 3's written reviews are positive against 70% of NASA's. NASA's advantage is ratings volume (64K vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
3 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NASA has 64K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of NASA's written reviews are positive against 100% of 3's.
NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, 3 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NASA | 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Cubic Insights LLC |
Customer experience
NASA
3
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
3
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NASA
No in-app purchases
3
No in-app purchases
