# Astral Star vs The Gateway Project

Astral Star and The Gateway Project are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Astral Star sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and The Gateway Project sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astral Star | The Gateway Project |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-gateway-project/id6770171826/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 59 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.5** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Light Mandalas Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1754624337) | [Rick Yost](https://appshunter.io/developer/1384293049) |

## What reviewers say

### Astral Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astral-star/id6615060975)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $17.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $179.99 | per year |


### The Gateway Project

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-gateway-project/id6770171826)

This app uses synthesized binaural beats to aid in relaxation, focus, and sleep. It offers free access to basic sessions and ambient sounds, with an optional premium subscription for advanced features and custom soundscapes. Designed for calm and privacy, it requires headphones for binaural sessions.

**Highlights:** Synthesized binaural beats, Focus Level system, General brainwave sessions, Ambient sound mixing, Prep Mode with affirmations, Daily visualization tools, Customizable sound builder

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Gateway Project | $4.99 | per month |
| The Gateway Project | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astral Star free?

Astral Star is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is The Gateway Project free?

The Gateway Project is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Astral Star or The Gateway Project have ads?

Neither Astral Star nor The Gateway Project shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astral Star or The Gateway Project?

Astral Star ships an update every 3 weeks, and The Gateway Project every 3 weeks. Most recently, Astral Star was updated on November 12, 2026 and The Gateway Project on November 12, 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.*