Gaia vs CuriosityStream
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Gaia
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide full description
Gaia is your guide to conscious life. We’re dedicated to finding and creating informative films, original shows, practices, and documentaries that aren’t available through mainstream media. We look to elevate your awareness through enlightening content covering personal transformation, ancient origins, alternative medicine, and much more. Gaia is your window into a new way of viewing the world. Gaia is the premier streaming platform where the world’s top thought leaders and teachers share knowledge and expertise to empower your conscious awakening. Seek your truth with our library of 8,000+ videos, films, documentaries, series, and live events aimed at answering life’s biggest questions while at the same time helping you navigate everyday complexities. Stream videos on personal transformation, yoga, meditation, and more with Gaia as your guide to holistic mental health and spirituality. Use our videos to discover new perspectives today and track your yoga practice and meditative activity in your Apple health app. Gaia is a complete resource for personal enlightenment, mindful living, and universal consciousness. Whether you want to enjoy a mindful yoga practice, practice deep meditation, or you’re seeking truth through metaphysics, fuel the pursuit of your highest potential with Gaia. GAIA FEATURES COMPELLING CONTENT THAT BREAKS BOUNDARIES - Discover ancient history, metaphysics, yoga, meditation, alternative health and more - Explore videos according to your taste and let your conscious journey begin - Enjoy exclusive content and videos that push the boundaries of tradition and encourage different ways of viewing the world - Learn more about spirituality and explore the world of astral projection, tarot cards, and hypnosis EXPLORE A NEW WAY OF THINKING - Join thought leaders in exploring topics like lucid dreaming, spiritual healing, and aura health - Dive into a vast library of content that will have you questioning what you know about the world - Explore the mysteries of metaphysics, extraterrestrial life, astrology, and more - Navigate the intricacies of topics such as plant medicine, hypnosis, and energy healing YOUR PATH TO HOLISTIC & SPIRITUAL WELLNESS - Access the world’s best teachers and spiritual luminaries to guide you on your self care path - Enjoy exercises for personal growth, including yoga nidra, meditation, mindful breathing, and more - Navigate the world’s largest conscious media network for a deep mental, physical, and spiritual connection - Learn the anxiety relief benefits of intermittent fasting, unblocking chakras and other holistic health techniques Gaia supports healthKit, allowing you to track your Yoga and Meditation activity in the Apple Health app. Use an existing login or purchase an auto-renewing subscription with your iTunes account to get access to Gaia. We offer a 7-day free trial with our $15.99 monthly plan & $139.99 annual plan, and a Gaia+ streaming plan for $299 annually without a free trial. Prices may vary by region. A single account grants you access to Gaia on supported devices, TVs, and the Web. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's iTunes Account Settings after purchase - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period For more information on our terms of use and privacy policy, please visit: http://www.gaia.com/terms-privacy
CuriosityStream
Access a vast library of award-winning documentaries and non-fiction content covering science, nature, history, and biographies. Enjoy ad-free streaming and offline viewing for all ages, including a dedicated kids' section.
- Unlimited documentary streaming
- Offline viewing with downloads
- 4K and HD content
- New content added weekly
- CuriosityKIDS section
- Ad-free experience
Read full descriptionHide full description
CuriosityStream is the world’s leading documentary and non-fiction streaming service covering science, nature, history, biographies of real characters of consequence and pretty much anything else you can think of. Learn about our natural world alongside luminaries like Sir David Attenborough. Look at our universe with wonder as Michio Kaku and Brian Greene broaden your perspective on space, time and the future. Step back in time and explore dinosaurs, ancient history, and the rise of homo sapiens. Curiositystream also offers CuriosityKIDS, a dedicated collection of safe, entertaining and inspiring programs for families to enjoy together or for kids to watch on their own. Let CuriosityKids spark a love of learning and a passion for exploration. Plus, all CuriosityStream shows are downloadable so you can keep kids entertained while on the go. Whether your kids are budding astronomers, paleontologists, or historians, CuriosityStream has got you covered with award-winning, ad-free content. Join more than 20 million CuriosityStream subscribers and explore thousands of brain-boosting documentaries. CuriosityStream membership benefits: - Unlimited streaming of the best in documentary programming - Download shows so you can watch anytime, anywhere without an internet connection - 4K and HD documentaries available on multiple devices - New content added weekly so you’ll never run out of things to watch - Browse titles with multiple search tools to help you quickly find your favorite subject areas - Rate your favorite shows and get recommendations for related content - Bookmark shows to watch later or resume watching previously viewed shows on other devices You may cancel your membership and stop the billing anytime by logging into your account. Please Note: - Payment will be charged to the user's iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase -Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase By downloading this application, you agree to the CuriosityStream Terms of Use (https://curiositystream.com/terms) and Privacy Policy (https://curiositystream.com/privacy).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Gaia at free with in-app purchases against CuriosityStream's subscription. Gaia also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 31%) and ratings volume (141K vs 6.3K). CuriosityStream's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Gaia sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and CuriosityStream sells 6 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 6.3K, 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 31% of CuriosityStream's.
Gaia ships an update weekly, CuriosityStream every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | Gaia | CuriosityStream |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (141K ratings) — better | 4.6 (6.3K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 67.7% of reviews — better | 30.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 141K — better | 6.3K |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #82 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 179 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Gaia | CuriosityStream, LLC |
Customer experience
Gaia
CuriosityStream
User reviews
Gaia
From 141K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Best streaming service
- 🌟 Transformative content
- 👍 Diverse and high-quality programming
- 🧘♀️ Excellent yoga and meditation resources
- 💡 Enlightening and eye-opening information
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and search
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Lack of offline access and Chromecast support
- 🤷♀️ Inconsistent content availability
CuriosityStream
From 6.3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great content
- 💡 Excellent value for money
- 👍 Diverse range of documentaries
- 👍 Informative and educational
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🐛 Streaming issues and buffering problems
- 🐛 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🐛 Chromecast/casting support issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent playback controls
Bugs and requests
Gaia
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes and freezes
- Video playback issues
- Inconsistent syncing across devices
- Unreliable offline access
Requested features
5 requests- Improved search and filtering options
- Offline viewing and download capabilities
- Chromecast and smart TV integration
- Personalized playlists and recommendations
- More content in different languages
CuriosityStream
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes on launch
- Videos not resuming from last position
- Casting issues and video playback problems
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
Requested features
5 requests- Offline downloads
- Profiles/multiple user support
- Improved search and recommendation features
- Better integration with TV platforms
- Customizable playback controls
In-app purchases
Gaia
- Gaia Membership Renewal$11.991 Month
- Monthly Membership7 Days trial$15.991 Month
- Monthly Membership - Legacy7 Days trial$15.991 Month
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Monthly Membership - Promotional$15.991 Month
- Annual Membership7 Days trial$139.991 Year
- Annual Membership - Promotional$139.991 Year
- Gaia+ Membership$299.991 Year
CuriosityStream
- Basic$5.991 Month
- Standard$5.991 Month
- Smart Bundle$11.991 Month
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Basic$49.991 Year
- Standard$49.991 Year
- Smart Bundle$79.991 Year
Questions
Is Gaia free?
Is CuriosityStream free?
Which has better reviews, Gaia or CuriosityStream?
Do Gaia or CuriosityStream have ads?
Which is updated more often, Gaia or CuriosityStream?
Other comparisons















