# Gaia vs Soapbox

The clearest difference is monetization model: Soapbox at free with in-app purchases against Gaia's subscription. Soapbox also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 68%). Gaia's advantage is ratings volume (141K vs 8) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Soapbox holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gaia has 141K ratings behind it against 8, 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 100% of Soapbox's.

Gaia ships an update weekly, Soapbox monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gaia | Soapbox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (141K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gaia-streaming-consciousness/id821068605/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soapbox/id6749024920/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **141K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 67.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#99** | — |
| Size | 175 MB | 2.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gaia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039984279) | [SoapboxLLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828510581) |

## What reviewers say

### Gaia

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

**Currently charting:** #99 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Access a vast library of films, original shows, and documentaries focused on personal growth, spirituality, and alternative perspectives. Explore topics like ancient history, metaphysics, yoga, and meditation to elevate your awareness and seek a new understanding of the world.

**Highlights:** Informative films and original shows, Documentaries on personal transformation, Practices for yoga and meditation, Content on ancient origins and alternative medicine, Live events and thought leader insights, Holistic mental health and spirituality resources, HealthKit integration for activity tracking

**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


### Soapbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soapbox/id6749024920)

Experience holographic performances from popular artists like T-Pain and Yelawolf in your own space. Watch interviews and listen to their hit songs brought to life in augmented reality. You can even record yourself interacting with the holograms.

**Highlights:** Holographic artist performances, Augmented reality integration, Watch interviews and songs, Record yourself with holograms, Interactive AR experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yelawolf - Barnfire | $1.99 | one-time |
| Yelawolf - You And Me | $1.99 | one-time |
| Amanda Nicole - Main Event | $1.99 | one-time |
| Amanda Nicole - Put it in My | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gaia free?

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

### Is Soapbox free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Gaia or Soapbox?

Soapbox is rated higher. Gaia averages 4.8 out of 5 from 141K ratings, while Soapbox averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do Gaia or Soapbox have ads?

Gaia shows ads; Soapbox does not.

### Which is updated more often, Gaia or Soapbox?

Gaia ships an update weekly, and Soapbox monthly. Most recently, Gaia was updated on November 1, 2026 and Soapbox on October 24, 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.*