# GPlates vs UniverseSnap

The clearest difference is review sentiment: UniverseSnap at 100% against GPlates's 44%. UniverseSnap also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 months). GPlates's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UniverseSnap holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GPlates has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of GPlates's written reviews are positive against 100% of UniverseSnap's.

GPlates ships an update every 6 months, UniverseSnap every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GPlates | UniverseSnap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gplates/id6447170583/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universesnap/id6748267654/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 57 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Xiaodong Qin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661896637) | [NAJ DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816340417) |

## What reviewers say

### GPlates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gplates/id6447170583)

Explore Earth's geological history by reconstructing and visualizing spatial data through geological time. This tool offers an intuitive interface for students, teachers, researchers, and enthusiasts to understand our planet's evolution.

**Highlights:** Reconstruct spatial data, Visualize geological time, Intuitive interface, Explore Earth's history, Plate reconstruction software

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### UniverseSnap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universesnap/id6748267654)

Explore stunning daily cosmic images and fascinating facts about space. Discover breathtaking photos of galaxies and nebulae with intuitive navigation and curated captions. Perfect for space enthusiasts and curious minds alike.

**Highlights:** Daily space image feed, Surprise Me mode for learning, High-resolution photos, Curated captions, Minimalist design, Dark mode support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GPlates free?

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

### Is UniverseSnap free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GPlates or UniverseSnap?

UniverseSnap is rated higher. GPlates averages 3.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while UniverseSnap averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do GPlates or UniverseSnap have ads?

Neither GPlates nor UniverseSnap shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GPlates or UniverseSnap?

GPlates ships an update every 6 months, and UniverseSnap every 3 days. Most recently, GPlates was updated on November 3, 2026 and UniverseSnap on November 5, 2026.

---

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