# The Elements in Action vs Universe in a Nutshell

The clearest difference is rating: Universe in a Nutshell at 4.9 against The Elements in Action's 4.4. Universe in a Nutshell also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 7 months) and review sentiment (89% vs 60%). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

The Elements in Action costs $4.99 and Universe in a Nutshell $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Universe in a Nutshell holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Universe in a Nutshell has 2.5K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of The Elements in Action's written reviews are positive against 89% of Universe in a Nutshell's.

The Elements in Action ships an update every 7 months, Universe in a Nutshell every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Elements in Action | Universe in a Nutshell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$2.99** |
| Rating | [4.4 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-elements-in-action/id739281034/reviews) | **[4.9 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universe-in-a-nutshell/id1526364758/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 59.6% of reviews | **89.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#51** |
| Size | 555 MB | 320 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NatureGuides Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/310574314) | [in a nutshell - kurzgesagt GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526364760) |

## What reviewers say

### The Elements in Action

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-elements-in-action/id739281034)

Explore the fascinating properties of chemical elements through captivating videos. Witness unique demonstrations of their behaviors, from the mundane to the explosive, all presented in an engaging and visually stunning format. This app brings the periodic table to life with scientific curiosity and artistic flair.

**Highlights:** 79 video explorations of element properties, Demonstrations of element reactions, High-quality filming by Max Whitby, Seamless integration with 'The Elements' app, Multiple language translations

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Universe in a Nutshell

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

**Currently charting:** #51 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 Elements in Action free?

The Elements in Action costs $4.99, 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 Elements in Action or Universe in a Nutshell?

Universe in a Nutshell is rated higher. The Elements in Action averages 4.4 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Universe in a Nutshell averages 4.9 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do The Elements in Action or Universe in a Nutshell have ads?

Neither The Elements in Action nor Universe in a Nutshell shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Elements in Action or Universe in a Nutshell?

The Elements in Action ships an update every 7 months, and Universe in a Nutshell every 4 days. Most recently, The Elements in Action was updated on November 1, 2026 and Universe in a Nutshell on October 31, 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.*