Comparison

Sample for Science vs Sera

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

Head to head
About

Sample for Science

Features
Read full description

The application is open to the general public, anyone can use it. No account creation required. The user can enter the application by logging in with their Google account or AppleID. The application was designed to distribute and reuse scientific samples that would otherwise be discarded. There is no paid content in the app.

About

Sera

Master the universe with daily, bite-sized lessons on astronomy and space. Explore a 3D solar system, get AI-summarized NASA news, and plan your astrophotography with field tools. Designed for quick learning and preserving night vision.

Highlights
  • 1-Minute Daily Astronomy Lessons
  • 48 Core Astronomy Domains
  • Interactive 3D Solar System Explorer
  • AI-Summarized NASA News
  • Lunar Calendar & Eclipse Tracking
  • Astrophotography Planning Tools
  • Night Vision Friendly Dark Mode
Features
Read full description

Learn the universe in under a minute a day. Sera is a short audio episode about space, picked for your sky tonight, with a quick question afterwards to make it stick. EVERY DAY, FREE Daily episode: One short audio episode each day, chosen around what's happening above you: clear skies, a full or new Moon, an upcoming eclipse. 48 free episodes: A library of under-a-minute audio episodes across the Moon, the Solar System, Deep Sky and Observation. All 48 stay free. Quick recall: Answer a short question after each episode, track your accuracy, and build a daily streak. NASA, made short: The Hubble feed and NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, rewritten into two or three plain sentences, linked to related episodes. 3D Solar System: Rotate, zoom and tap any planet for its facts and related episodes. Lunar calendar: Tonight's phase and illumination, the month ahead, the next four phases and upcoming eclipses with where they're visible. Astrophotography: A score for tonight's shooting conditions based on moonlight and cloud cover, with a suggestion for what to shoot. Built for the dark: A black, low-glare design that's easy on your night vision. SERA PRO - Every Pro episode, with new ones added regularly - Interactive deep dives: hands-on lessons where you move the Moon and predict its phases, starting with Moon Lab - Personal review: one short question at a time on what you've learned, spaced so it sticks - Offline: save episodes to listen and read without a connection SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS SERA PRO is an optional auto-renewing subscription, available yearly (with a free trial for eligible new subscribers) or monthly. The price in your currency is shown in the app before you buy. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, or when the free trial ends. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel any time in your Apple Account settings. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Terms of Use: https://m1labs.io/terms/sera Privacy Policy: https://m1labs.io/privacy/sera

Screenshots

Sample for Science3 screens
Sera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sample for Science at none against Sera's 2. Sample for Science also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Sera's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). 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. Sera sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Sample for Science asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sample for Science ships an update every 6 weeks, Sera every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sample for Science versus Sera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSample for ScienceSera
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.8 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB78 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperUniversidade Federal Fluminense - UFFM1 Labs

In-app purchases

None

Sample for Science

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Sera

Subscriptions2
  • SERA Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
  • SERA Pro Annual7 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Sample for Science free?
Sample for Science is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sera free?
Sera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sample for Science or Sera have ads?
Neither Sample for Science nor Sera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sample for Science or Sera?
Sample for Science ships an update every 6 weeks, and Sera every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sample for Science was updated on October 30, 2026 and Sera on October 24, 2026.

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