Comparison

Space Images vs Earthlapse

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

Head to head
About

Space Images

Explore breathtaking images from NASA missions, featuring planets, galaxies, and space technology. This app offers widgets for your home screen and StandBy mode, allowing you to view a slideshow while your device charges. You can also bookmark, search, and share your favorite celestial discoveries.

Highlights
  • Latest NASA space images
  • Widgets for home screen
  • StandBy mode slideshow
  • Image notifications
  • Search and browse categories
  • Bookmark and share images
Features
Read full description

Discover stunning new images of space, planets, Mars, asteroids, stars, galaxies, and cutting-edge space technology as they are released each week from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This new version of Space Images is fully redesigned and optimized for iOS 17, now supporting all widgets, including StandBy, which can display a slideshow while your device is charging. • iTunes Staff Favorite • Top Free App in the App Store Education category Features • From Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the icy moons of the outer solar system, get the latest science images of planets, stars, galaxies, robotic explorers, weather, and more. • Opt-in to get once-per-week notifications of the coolest images captured by JPL’s fleet of NASA space probes, including the Ingenuity Mars helicopter and rovers and the James Webb Space Telescope. • View the latest images from space on your home screen using our widgets. • Display a continuous rotating carousel of Space Images on your desk or side table using Standby (iOS 17). • “Like” and bookmark your favorite celestial images and share seamlessly on popular social media platforms. • Search by keyword or browse by these categories: Earth, Mars, Solar System, Stars and Galaxies, Exoplanets, Robotics, and Technology. • Save images to your photo library and share them with your friends.

About

Earthlapse

Transform your device into a window to Earth from the International Space Station. Explore stunning, interactive views captured by astronauts, track the ISS live, and enjoy ambient space music and weather information.

Highlights
  • Interactive Earth views from ISS
  • Live ISS tracker
  • NASA live feed
  • Ambient space soundtracks
  • Worldwide weather information
  • Clock display
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPad or iPhone into a window aboard the International Space Station. Experience stunning views of Earth captured by NASA astronauts. Touch the views and control the planet with your finger. A truly amazing one-of-a-kind experience. The app comes complete with 20 beautiful interactive views of Earth as well as NASA's live view from the Space Station. In addition, the app includes a live ISS tracker, 9 relaxing space soundtracks, a clock and worldwide weather from OpenWeather in 4 styles. Fully supports iPhone, iPhone Duo, and iPad. Please note that NASA's live feed is sometimes offline or otherwise unavailable. Even when online, the live view often shows black as the ISS is regularly on the dark side of Earth. Images courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center. Created by the makers of Magic Window. For more beautiful views, check out Magic Window on iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV. Earthlapse 4K is also available on Apple TV (sold separately).

Screenshots

Space Images4 screens
Earthlapse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Space Images at 4.6 against Earthlapse's 4.1. Space Images also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Space Images holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 25 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Space Images's written reviews are positive against 71% of Earthlapse's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Space Images ships an update every 4 months, Earthlapse every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Space Images versus Earthlapse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpace ImagesEarthlapse
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (16 ratings) — better4.1 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews63.0% of reviews70.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1625 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB130 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJet Propulsion LaboratoryJetson Creative LLC

Customer experience

Space Images

All ratings15 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews119 reviews
Positive63.0%
Neutral9.2%
Negative27.7%

Earthlapse

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews127 reviews
Positive70.9%
Neutral10.2%
Negative18.9%

Bugs and requests

Space Images

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Earthlapse

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Weather forecast showing blank space
  • App not working properly on iPad and iPhone
  • Live view feature not functioning
  • Blurred image quality on Apple TV
  • Frame rate issues causing poor performance
Show 2 more
  • Compatibility issues with older iOS versions
  • Incompatible with original iPad devices

Requested features

15 requests
  • Add more video content and scenes
  • Implement real-time or live streaming from ISS
  • Reduce file size through better compression
  • Add Chromecast support
  • Allow custom music selection
Show 10 more
  • Include 24-hour time format option
  • Add space station position overlay on live view
  • Enable AirPlay for live view feature
  • Create longer loops showing full orbital views
  • Add interactive elements like robotic arm control
  • Include sunrise/sunset and weather event views
  • Provide educational information about locations
  • Make app universal across all Apple devices
  • Add zoom functionality
  • Include different viewing angles and perspectives

In-app purchases

None

Space Images

No in-app purchases

None

Earthlapse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Space Images free?
Space Images is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Earthlapse free?
Earthlapse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Space Images or Earthlapse?
Space Images is rated higher. Space Images averages 4.6 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Earthlapse averages 4.1 from 25 ratings.
Do Space Images or Earthlapse have ads?
Neither Space Images nor Earthlapse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Space Images or Earthlapse?
Space Images ships an update every 4 months, and Earthlapse every 12 months. Most recently, Space Images was updated on November 4, 2026 and Earthlapse on November 13, 2026.

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