# CosmoCalc vs Galaxy Map

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CosmoCalc at none against Galaxy Map's 13. CosmoCalc also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Galaxy Map's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (609 vs 4). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Galaxy Map sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. CosmoCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.

CosmoCalc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Galaxy Map has 609 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of CosmoCalc's written reviews are positive against 80% of Galaxy Map's.

CosmoCalc ships an update every 6 months, Galaxy Map monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CosmoCalc | Galaxy Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmocalc/id334569654/reviews)** | [4.6 (609 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **609** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 79.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 601 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eli Rykoff](https://appshunter.io/developer/318275933) | [Andrei Nistorescu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1048905386) |

## What reviewers say

### CosmoCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmocalc/id334569654)

This app calculates astronomical distances and scales based on user-selected cosmological parameters. It offers a simple interface for astronomers, students, and enthusiasts to quickly determine various cosmic measurements.

**Highlights:** Select cosmological parameters (H0, Ωm, ΩΛ), Choose from common reference cosmologies, Calculate luminosity distance, Determine angular diameter distance, Calculate lookback time, Find age of the Universe, Compute comoving volume and critical density

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Galaxy Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456)

Explore the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies in an interactive 3D map. Discover nebulae, supernovae, and planets, with stunning visuals based on NASA data. Ideal for education and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D galaxy map, Explore nebulae and supernovae, Fly through planetary atmospheres, Land on planets, Based on NASA data, Available in 100+ languages

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Dragon Frigate | $1.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle - SALE | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle - SALE | $4.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌌 Impressive 3D galaxy and nebula visualizations
- 🚀 Spaceship exploration feature with landing capability
- 📚 Educational content about space and astronomy
- 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay mechanics
- ✨ No ads in free version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall for most content
- 🐛 App crashes and fails to load
- 🎮 Poor control mechanics for flying and walking
- 🔍 Lack of zoom functionality or unclear controls
- 🌑 Black holes look too similar to each other

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Explore button shows nothing
- Pinch-to-zoom doesn't work
- App won't load on iPad
- Text displays as boxes in language settings

**Requested features**

- Search button to find galaxies and objects
- More diverse and realistic black hole designs
- AR feature to identify stars/planets in real sky
- More free content and objects
- Exoplanet additions (TRAPPIST-1e, J1407B)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CosmoCalc free?

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

### Is Galaxy Map free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CosmoCalc or Galaxy Map?

CosmoCalc is rated higher. CosmoCalc averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Galaxy Map averages 4.6 from 609 ratings.

### Do CosmoCalc or Galaxy Map have ads?

Galaxy Map shows ads; CosmoCalc does not.

### Which is updated more often, CosmoCalc or Galaxy Map?

CosmoCalc ships an update every 6 months, and Galaxy Map monthly. Most recently, CosmoCalc was updated on October 6, 2026 and Galaxy Map on October 12, 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.*