# Gaia vs MagellanTV Documentaries

The clearest difference is ads: MagellanTV Documentaries at none against Gaia's shown. Gaia's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 37%) and ratings volume (141K vs 3.9K). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Gaia sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and MagellanTV Documentaries sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Gaia holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gaia has 141K ratings behind it against 3.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Gaia's written reviews are positive against 37% of MagellanTV Documentaries's.

Gaia ships an update weekly, MagellanTV Documentaries every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gaia | MagellanTV Documentaries |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (141K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-streaming-consciousness/id821068605/reviews)** | [4.6 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magellantv-documentaries/id1449628141/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **141K** | 3.9K |
| Positive reviews | **67.7% of reviews** | 36.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#79** | — |
| Size | 179 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Gaia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039984279) | [MagellanTV LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449628140) |

## What reviewers say

### Gaia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-streaming-consciousness/id821068605)

**Currently charting:** #79 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Explore a vast library of films, original shows, and practices focused on personal transformation, ancient origins, and alternative medicine. This platform offers content from top thought leaders to empower your conscious awakening and holistic wellness journey.

**Highlights:** 8,000+ videos, films, documentaries, series, Content on personal transformation, yoga, meditation, Exploration of ancient history, metaphysics, spirituality, Live events and original shows, Integration with Apple Health for activity tracking, Content from top thought leaders

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gaia Membership Renewal | $11.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $15.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership - Legacy | $15.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership - Promotional | $15.99 | per month |
| Annual Membership | $139.99 | per year |
| Annual Membership - Promotional | $139.99 | per year |
| Gaia+ Membership | $299.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best streaming service
- 🌟 Transformative content
- 👍 Diverse and high-quality programming
- 🧘‍♀️ Excellent yoga and meditation resources
- 💡 Enlightening and eye-opening information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and search
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Lack of offline access and Chromecast support
- 🤷‍♀️ Inconsistent content availability

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Video playback issues
- Inconsistent syncing across devices
- Unreliable offline access

**Requested features**

- Improved search and filtering options
- Offline viewing and download capabilities
- Chromecast and smart TV integration
- Personalized playlists and recommendations
- More content in different languages


### MagellanTV Documentaries

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magellantv-documentaries/id1449628141)

Access an extensive library of documentaries across various genres, including history, science, and true crime. Enjoy unlimited streaming on multiple devices with new content added weekly. This service is ad-free and offers exclusive playlists.

**Highlights:** Extensive documentary library, Unlimited streaming, Multi-device support, New content added weekly, Ad-free viewing, Casting to TV devices

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Membership | $17.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual Membership | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great content and selection
- 💡 Diverse range of documentaries
- 🚀 Excellent customer service
- 🤩 Impressive content quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and search
- 🔌 Inconsistent streaming performance
- 🤯 Frustrating login and account issues
- 🤔 Lack of basic features (e.g. continue watching, auto-play)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Videos freeze or have audio-only playback
- Login issues and inability to access account
- Inconsistent performance across devices
- Download failures and unreliable offline viewing

**Requested features**

- Add skip forward/backward buttons
- Implement picture-in-picture mode
- Improve offline viewing and downloads
- Provide better content organization and search
- Add user profile and watch history features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gaia free?

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

### Is MagellanTV Documentaries free?

MagellanTV Documentaries is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Gaia or MagellanTV Documentaries?

Gaia is rated higher. Gaia averages 4.8 out of 5 from 141K ratings, while MagellanTV Documentaries averages 4.6 from 3.9K ratings.

### Do Gaia or MagellanTV Documentaries have ads?

Gaia shows ads; MagellanTV Documentaries does not.

### Which is updated more often, Gaia or MagellanTV Documentaries?

Gaia ships an update weekly, and MagellanTV Documentaries every 3 weeks. Most recently, Gaia was updated on November 12, 2026 and MagellanTV Documentaries on November 11, 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.*