# The Fourth Dimension vs Universe in a Nutshell

The clearest difference is update cadence: Universe in a Nutshell at every 4 days against The Fourth Dimension's every 4 months. Universe in a Nutshell also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and chart position (#150 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

The Fourth Dimension costs $2.99 and Universe in a Nutshell $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for The Fourth Dimension against 4.9 for Universe in a Nutshell. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.9K and 2.5K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of The Fourth Dimension's written reviews are positive against 89% of Universe in a Nutshell's.

The Fourth Dimension ships an update every 4 months, Universe in a Nutshell every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Fourth Dimension | Universe in a Nutshell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-fourth-dimension/id504201783/reviews) | **[4.9 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universe-in-a-nutshell/id1526364758/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.9K | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **94.2% of reviews** | 89.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#150** |
| Size | 5 MB | 320 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lunar Skydiving LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/504201786) | [in a nutshell - kurzgesagt GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526364760) |

## What reviewers say

### The Fourth Dimension

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-fourth-dimension/id504201783)

Explore a complex mathematical concept through an interactive 3D experience. This app uses a unique touch interface to help you visualize and understand the fourth dimension in an engaging and accessible way.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D touch interface, Explains the fourth dimension, Accessible language for all, 30-page interactive book, Visual and hands-on learning

**In-app purchases:** none


### Universe in a Nutshell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universe-in-a-nutshell/id1526364758)

**Currently charting:** #150 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Explore the vastness of the universe, from subatomic particles to distant galaxies, through an interactive, swipe-based journey. Understand true scale by comparing objects and discover fascinating facts about over 250 animated illustrations. Immerse yourself in the cosmos with original music.

**Highlights:** Interactive scale exploration, Seamless zooming from 10^-35m to 10^26m, Fun facts about objects, Explanations for each object, Over 250 animated illustrations, Original music soundtrack

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Fascinating and educational
- 🎨 Beautiful artwork and animations
- 🎶 Relaxing background music
- 📚 Comprehensive information on a wide range of topics
- 🔍 Intuitive and easy to navigate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on some devices, especially older iPhones
- 🔍 Difficulty comparing sizes of objects due to positioning
- 🕹️ Laggy animations and transitions on some devices
- 🌐 Lack of offline functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch for some users
- Overlapping hit boxes make it difficult to select certain objects

**Requested features**

- Add more objects to explore (e.g. Uranus, Eris, more moons, etc.)
- Implement a search function to quickly find specific objects
- Add the ability to compare multiple objects side-by-side
- Include more in-depth scientific information and facts
- Provide an option to have the descriptions read aloud


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Fourth Dimension free?

The Fourth Dimension costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Universe in a Nutshell free?

Universe in a Nutshell costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Fourth Dimension or Universe in a Nutshell?

Universe in a Nutshell is rated higher. The Fourth Dimension averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Universe in a Nutshell averages 4.9 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do The Fourth Dimension or Universe in a Nutshell have ads?

Neither The Fourth Dimension nor Universe in a Nutshell shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Fourth Dimension or Universe in a Nutshell?

The Fourth Dimension ships an update every 4 months, and Universe in a Nutshell every 4 days. Most recently, The Fourth Dimension was updated on November 6, 2026 and Universe in a Nutshell on November 7, 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.*