# CosmoCalc vs Cosmic Atlas

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.

Both are free to download. Cosmic Atlas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CosmoCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | CosmoCalc | Cosmic Atlas |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmocalc/id334569654/reviews)** | [3.7 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmic-atlas/id1305522465/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **65** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 58.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 147 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eli Rykoff](https://appshunter.io/developer/318275933) | [Cosmic Atlas LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503373138) |

## 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


### Cosmic Atlas

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cosmic-atlas/id1305522465)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Features | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Stunning visuals and graphics
- 🌌 Immersive exploration experience
- 📚 Great for learning about the universe
- 💡 Unique and original app
- 🚀 Fast and smooth performance (when working)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
- 💸 Paywalls limit free version
- 🤔 Confusing in-app purchases
- 📱 Text size difficult to read
- 😵 Over-the-top and irritating graphics

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes upon opening
- Kicked out of the game
- Cannot connect to server
- Error that doesn't let user in
- Planets brighten up unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*