Comparison

Cosmic vs Space Gate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cosmic

Explore the cosmos with this app that offers interactive tools for celestial navigation and astronomical observation. Visualize the sky, Earth, and solar system from multiple perspectives, and discover constellations, planets, and events in augmented reality. It's a blend of ancient wisdom and modern technology for a deeper connection to the universe.

Highlights
  • Multiple celestial perspectives (sky, Earth, solar system)
  • Augmented reality sky exploration
  • Interactive astronomical and world clocks
  • Visualized natal charts (Western, Vedic, Sidereal)
  • Day/night cycles on Earth globe
  • Celestial navigation guides
  • Notifications for astronomical events
Features
Read full description

The sky above you, the Earth beneath you, the solar system you move through space. Three perspectives no other app combines this way. For thousands of years humans read the sky to measure time, navigate the Earth, and find meaning in their existence. Astronomy, astrology, and timekeeping were one science. Cosmic Watch reunites them. Free for the first time in ten years. FEATURES (core) • Sky View — stars, planets, and constellations • Earth View — day and night cycle, the cosmos around it • Solar System — geocentric and heliocentric • Celestial sphere — full 360° sky overview, unique to this app • Astrology Mode — Western, Vedic and 3D • Retrograde motion across all planets • World clock and astronomical events • Notifications for eclipses, solstices, and moon cycles • Celestial navigation — orient yourself by the sky Or just watch the Earth float in space and remember where you are. Free to explore. The three views, sky guide, every layer, star names, world clock, and notifications are yours from the first open. Tools and Time Control unlock with a subscription — or forever with Cosmic Pro. Keep the project alive and growing. We read every message you send us. TOOLS (in-app purchase) • Moon Calendar • Real-Time Clouds • Meteor Showers • Comets • Planetary Aspects • Retrograde Year • Dreamspell Calendar • Atmosphere Clockface • Save Date / Time / Location • Time Control — move forward and back, any moment A full app. Not a widget or watch face, yet. Runs on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Mac Privacy committed: No account required. Analytics never shared. Webby Award for Best Educational App 2018. New York Times. Wired. Space.com. By a Chi Gong master and an animation artist. Still looking up. Time is the Cosmic Rhythm. Terms of Use: https://cosmic-watch.com/termsOfService/ Privacy Policy: https://cosmic-watch.com/privacyPolicy/

About

Space Gate

Explore the universe with interactive 3D and AR experiences of the solar system. Discover celestial bodies, engage with live astronomy news, and even interact with black holes. Tailored for learning and education.

Highlights
  • 3D and AR solar system exploration
  • Interactive black hole simulations
  • Live astronomy magazine
  • Educational celestial catalogs
  • Capture and save celestial snapshots
Features
Read full description

Explore the Universe with Space-Gate - An Interactive Celestial Journey Discover the Wonders of Space: Dive into an awe-inspiring journey across the cosmos with Space-Gate. Our app brings the mysteries of the universe to your fingertips, offering a unique blend of education and entertainment. Whether you're a curious child, a student with a thirst for knowledge, or an astronomy enthusiast, our app is your gateway to exploring the solar system and beyond in stunning detail. Engage with live astronomy magazine: Dive into the cosmos with our app's magazine feature—your portal to the latest astronomy news, riveting space exploration stories, and learning progress, all in one place. Stunning 3D and AR Experiences: Experience the solar system like never before! With breathtaking 3D and advanced AR technology, you can navigate through the orbits of planets, witness the dance of their moons, and marvel at the beauty of our universe in high resolution. Our app isn't just a visual treat; it's a journey that brings the galaxy to life. Interact with Black Holes: Ever wondered what it’s like to interact with a black hole? Our innovative feature lets you manipulate the fabric of space-time, offering an immersive and educational experience. Using latest technologies, witness how black holes bend time, space, and even light at the touch of your finger. Educational Catalogs & Snapshots: Explore our extensive catalogs filled with fascinating information about each celestial body. Capture and save breathtaking celestial scenes, perfect for wallpapers or sharing your space exploration with friends. Tailored for Learning: Perfect for educators and parents, our app is an invaluable tool for teaching. From young minds to advanced learners. The app offers premium features as subscription plans and in app purchases. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, at the rate of your selected plan. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. During the free trial period, you can enjoy full access to all the app's features. If you decide to subscribe during the trial, any unused portion of the free trial period will be forfeited. For more information, please read terms of use: https://alpinebytes.ucraft.site/space-gate

Screenshots

Cosmic4 screens
Space Gate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cosmic at Free against Space Gate's $12.99. Cosmic also leads on ratings volume (636 vs 202). Space Gate's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Cosmic is free to download; Space Gate costs $12.99 up front. Cosmic sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Space Gate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Cosmic against 4.8 for Space Gate. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 636 and 202 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Cosmic's written reviews are positive against 86% of Space Gate's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cosmic ships an update every 6 months, Space Gate weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Cosmic versus Space Gate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCosmicSpace Gate
PriceFree — better$12.99
Rating4.8 (636 ratings) — better4.8 (202 ratings)
Positive reviews86.8% of reviews — better85.8% of reviews
Number of ratings636 — better202
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB156 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCelestial Dynamics AGAli Samaei

Customer experience

Cosmic

All ratings624 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.1%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews152 reviews
Positive86.8%
Neutral3.9%
Negative9.2%

Space Gate

All ratings200 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive85.8%
Neutral3.0%
Negative11.2%

User reviews

Cosmic

From 636 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Visually stunning and mesmerizing
  • 🔍 Excellent for learning about the solar system and celestial sphere
  • 🕰️ Useful for tracking planetary movements and positions
  • 🎨 Beautiful and intuitive interface
  • 🧠 Highly educational and informative

Room to improve

  • 🔧 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 📍 Inaccurate location detection
  • 🔍 Overwhelming amount of information for beginners
  • ⚙️ Difficulty in customizing and managing settings
  • 🔍 Lack of clear tutorials and user guides

Space Gate

From 202 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎨 Stunning 3D graphics and visual quality
  • 🌍 Immersive AR experience for exploring planets
  • 📚 Comprehensive educational content about space
  • 🎓 Excellent tool for teachers and students
  • 📸 Screenshot/snapshot capture functionality

Room to improve

  • 💰 Misleading free-to-play pricing model
  • 🔒 Unexpected in-app purchase charges
  • 🎮 Unintuitive navigation and UI
  • 🐛 Orbital mechanics inaccuracies
  • 🌙 Moon tidal locking not correctly simulated

Bugs and requests

Cosmic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Date and time not accurately reflected in the solar system view
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between different modes and settings
  • Difficulty in maintaining user preferences across sessions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add an alarm feature to wake up to different celestial views
  • Implement support for Apple Watch and other wearables
  • Provide more options to customize the display and information layers
  • Include a night mode or dimmer setting for better visibility in low light
  • Integrate with other astronomy apps and tools for a more comprehensive experience

Space Gate

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Moon not tidally locked to Earth
  • Moon orbiting Earth in wrong direction
  • Planets orbiting sun in opposing/incorrect directions
  • Uranus moons glitched
  • Venus orbital speed faster than Mercury
Show 6 more
  • Navigation stuck on celestial objects (e.g., Phobos)
  • Unable to exit and return to main menu
  • In-app purchase restoration issues between devices
  • Moon rotates multiple times per orbit
  • Difficulty backing out of exploration mode
  • Mercury translation error in Turkish

Requested features

12 requests
  • Ability to set any planet as immobile center point
  • More free planets without paywall
  • Additional galaxies beyond solar system
  • Toggle for planet/moon/star name labels
  • Time-lapse function with variable speeds
Show 7 more
  • More interactive black hole visualization
  • Astrology-related content
  • Improved moon orbit accuracy
  • Correct planetary orbital directions
  • Per-app language settings independent of iOS settings
  • More detailed information and content
  • True realistic scale mode with disclaimer

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Cosmic

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Plan$0.991 Month
  • Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Plan$4.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Tools Pack$2.99
  • Cosmic Pro$69.99
3 purchases

Space Gate

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription3 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Subscription$12.99

Questions

Is Cosmic free?
Cosmic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Space Gate free?
Space Gate costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cosmic or Space Gate?
Cosmic is rated higher. Cosmic averages 4.8 out of 5 from 636 ratings, while Space Gate averages 4.8 from 202 ratings.
Do Cosmic or Space Gate have ads?
Neither Cosmic nor Space Gate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cosmic or Space Gate?
Cosmic ships an update every 6 months, and Space Gate weekly. Most recently, Cosmic was updated on October 26, 2026 and Space Gate on October 24, 2026.

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