# NASA vs Cosmic

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NASA at none against Cosmic's 6. NASA also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (64K vs 636). Cosmic's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 70%). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cosmic sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 Cosmic. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NASA has 64K ratings behind it against 636, 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 87% of Cosmic's.

NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, Cosmic every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NASA | Cosmic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516/reviews)** | [4.8 (636 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmic-watch/id971231853/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **64K** | 636 |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | **86.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [Celestial Dynamics AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/997250789) |

## What reviewers say

### NASA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast loading
- 👍 Informative and educational
- 🌟 Amazing images and videos
- 💻 Great for learning about space
- 🔭 Comprehensive space information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 📺 Missing live streaming features
- 🔄 Outdated user interface
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Cosmic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmic-watch/id971231853)

Explore the cosmos with this app that offers interactive tools for celestial navigation and astronomical observation. Visualize the sky, Earth, and solar system from multiple perspectives, and discover constellations, planets, and events in augmented reality. It's a blend of ancient wisdom and modern technology for a deeper connection to the universe.

**Highlights:** Multiple celestial perspectives (sky, Earth, solar system), Augmented reality sky exploration, Interactive astronomical and world clocks, Visualized natal charts (Western, Vedic, Sidereal), Day/night cycles on Earth globe, Celestial navigation guides, Notifications for astronomical events

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $0.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $4.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Tools Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cosmic Pro | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Visually stunning and mesmerizing
- 🔍 Excellent for learning about the solar system and celestial sphere
- 🕰️ Useful for tracking planetary movements and positions
- 🎨 Beautiful and intuitive interface
- 🧠 Highly educational and informative

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔧 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 📍 Inaccurate location detection
- 🔍 Overwhelming amount of information for beginners
- ⚙️ Difficulty in customizing and managing settings
- 🔍 Lack of clear tutorials and user guides

**Reported bugs**

- Date and time not accurately reflected in the solar system view
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between different modes and settings
- Difficulty in maintaining user preferences across sessions

**Requested features**

- Add an alarm feature to wake up to different celestial views
- Implement support for Apple Watch and other wearables
- Provide more options to customize the display and information layers
- Include a night mode or dimmer setting for better visibility in low light
- Integrate with other astronomy apps and tools for a more comprehensive experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NASA free?

NASA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cosmic free?

Cosmic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NASA or Cosmic?

NASA is rated higher. NASA averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64K ratings, while Cosmic averages 4.8 from 636 ratings.

### Do NASA or Cosmic have ads?

Neither NASA nor Cosmic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NASA or Cosmic?

NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, and Cosmic every 6 months. Most recently, NASA was updated on October 28, 2026 and Cosmic on October 26, 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.*