Comparison

CosmoCalc vs Cosmic Atlas

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

Head to head
About

CosmoCalc

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
Read full description

CosmoCalc is a simple cosmological distance calculator. With a simple and intuitive interface you can quickly set a reference cosmology and redshift, and CosmoCalc will calculate a full suite of astronomical distances and scales. CosmoCalc is a useful and educational reference tool for astronomers, astronomy students, and anybody interested in calculating the distance to astronomical sources. CosmoCalc allows you to: * Select cosmological parameters H_0, Ω_m, and Ω_Λ with simple touch-screen controls * Easily choose from common reference cosmologies, including Planck 2013, WMAP9, Concordance, and Einstein-deSitter * Quickly determine the luminosity distance, angular diameter distance, lookback time, age of the Universe, comoving volume, and critical density * Easily switch between flat and non-flat cosmologies by clicking on the chain

About

Cosmic Atlas

Explore a vast, scientifically rendered universe with lifelike exoplanets and detailed celestial bodies. Navigate through trillions of light years with multiple exploration modes, from first-person flight to telescopic identification. Discover and learn about thousands of planets beyond our solar system.

Highlights
  • Explore 5,000+ lifelike exoplanets
  • Navigate 180 trillion sq light years
  • Six interstellar travel modes
  • First-person planet view
  • Scientifically accurate renderings
  • Telescope identification mode
  • Detailed planet information panels
Read full description

Go beyond star gazing. Visit nearly 5,000 lifelike exoplanets and navigate 180 trillion square light years of the universe beyond our solar system. Featuring 6 modes of interstellar travel and examination, Cosmic Atlas is an open-world space exploration app for those who look up at the night sky and wonder what we may find in the infinite frontier of the universe. Try it free and fly anywhere in the solar system plus six bonus planetary systems for a total of 50+ stunning planets, moons, and dwarf planets. Upgrade for all the incredible planets and features to explore every corner of the Milky Way mapped by NASA, JPL, ESA, and other international space programs. ::::: VISIT THOUSANDS OF PLANETS ::::: First-person view of 4,987 recently discovered exoplanets with stunning 3D models featuring detailed atmospheres and surfaces using science-driven artist renderings, including: [•] Potentially habitable Earth-like planets in the Habitable Zone that can support liquid water [•] Hot terrestrial planets closer to the system's star with landscapes from windswept sands to volcanic infernos or oppressive Venus-like atmospheres [•] Cold terrestrial planets past the habitable zone covered with rocks, frozen deserts, or sheets of ice [•] Jovian gas giants with colorful cloud layers based on the elements visible in the upper atmosphere at different temperatures [•] Neptunian ice giants with outer clouds that appear glassy smooth or enveloped with strings of cool clouds ::PLUS:: High resolution planets, moons, and dwarf planets in our own Solar System created from enhanced NASA mission images ::::: MASSIVE OPEN COSMIC ENVIRONMENT ::::: [•] Over 180 trillion square light years of the Milky Way ready to explore at it’s true scale [•] 116,000+ unique stars individually colored to match their true color temperature in blue, yellow, or red spectrums [•] 3,710 unique planetary systems with confirmed exoplanets [•] Scientifically accurate star positions and luminosity to see what the night sky looks like from distant worlds [•] Data-rich information panels to learn about planet attributes, parent system, discovery method, and research programs credited with its discovery [•] Flag stars and planets to easily revisit later ::::: SIX EXPLORATION MODES ::::: [New!] Telescope :: to point your phone at the sky to identify planets, stars, and distant planetary systems Pilot :: with first person flight controls and autopilot to lock trajectory toward a selected destination Orbit :: to easily navigate systems and rotate or zoom in to examine planets Navigator :: to find nearby systems and planets or revisit saved planets Database :: to browse the complete catalog find new exoplanets, planetary systems, and stars Search :: to find specific stars and exoplanets or nearby planets, moons, and dwarf planets in our solar system ::::: SETTINGS ::::: HDR Lighting :: Active by default, HDR lighting shows realistic relative brightness of stars and planets. Toggle HDR off for consistent lighting with stars and the Milky Way always visible in the background. Systems Only :: Enable to hide labels for stars without exoplanets in Pilot, Navigator, & Telescope modes. Objects with Info Only :: Enable to hide labels for stars without detailed data available. ::::: DATA SOURCES ::::: Using the latest exoplanet data from programs by NASA and the European Space Agency, Cosmic Atlas is a true-to-scale 3D environment where users can freely explore our small section Milky Way galaxy and examine thousands of newly discovered stars and exoplanets. The latest planetary system data is collected from a number of public research programs, including the University of Puerto Rico's Planetary Habitability Laboratory and the NASA Exoplanet Archive, which is operated by the California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA under the Exoplanet Exploration Program.

Screenshots

CosmoCalc3 screens
Cosmic Atlas4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CosmoCalc at 5.0 against Cosmic Atlas's 3.7. CosmoCalc also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 59%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Cosmic Atlas's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (65 vs 4). On price, ads 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. Cosmic Atlas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CosmoCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CosmoCalc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cosmic Atlas has 65 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 59% of Cosmic Atlas's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CosmoCalc ships an update every 6 months, Cosmic Atlas every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
CosmoCalc versus Cosmic Atlas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCosmoCalcCosmic Atlas
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better3.7 (65 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better58.5% of reviews
Number of ratings465 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS9.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB147 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEli RykoffCosmic Atlas LLC

Customer experience

CosmoCalc

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Cosmic Atlas

All ratings63 ratings
Positive63.5%
Neutral7.9%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews41 reviews
Positive58.5%
Neutral12.2%
Negative29.3%

Bugs and requests

CosmoCalc

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Cosmic Atlas

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • App crashes upon opening
  • Kicked out of the game
  • Cannot connect to server
  • Error that doesn't let user in
  • Planets brighten up unexpectedly
Show 3 more
  • Dark side of planets brightens up
  • Cannot buy upgrades
  • App became free after purchase, now requires new purchase for features

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add more solar system objects
  • Fix Haumea's shape
  • Add more candidates, dwarf moons, hypothetical objects, spacecrafts, anomalies, random asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
  • Add ability to go into planets and see a preview
  • Add more galaxies to travel to
Show 2 more
  • Add a search page/bar
  • Add control for enlarging text

In-app purchases

None

CosmoCalc

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Cosmic Atlas

One-time1
  • Premium Features$0.99

Questions

Is CosmoCalc free?
CosmoCalc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cosmic Atlas free?
Cosmic Atlas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CosmoCalc or Cosmic Atlas?
CosmoCalc is rated higher. CosmoCalc averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Cosmic Atlas averages 3.7 from 65 ratings.
Do CosmoCalc or Cosmic Atlas have ads?
Neither CosmoCalc nor Cosmic Atlas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CosmoCalc or Cosmic Atlas?
CosmoCalc ships an update every 6 months, and Cosmic Atlas every 3 weeks. Most recently, CosmoCalc was updated on October 31, 2026 and Cosmic Atlas on November 4, 2026.

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