Comparison

CuriosityStream vs Nebula⁣

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Unlimited documentary streaming
  • Offline viewing with downloads
  • 4K and HD content
  • New content added weekly
  • CuriosityKIDS section
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read 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).

About

Nebula⁣

Access a curated collection of videos, podcasts, and classes from independent creators. Enjoy exclusive original content, extended cuts, and offline downloads. Support creators directly through this ad-free streaming platform.

Highlights
  • Full catalog access
  • Exclusive Nebula Originals
  • Nebula Plus extended content
  • Creator release notifications
  • Offline video downloads
Features
Read full description

Premium streaming from independent creators. Enjoy exclusive originals, bonus material, and early releases from the best independent creators. Unlimited and ad⁠-⁠free. • Nebula Originals — Documentaries, collaborative series, animated specials, and more. • Nebula Plus — Bonus material including extended cuts, companion videos, and interviews. • Nebula First — Early releases available on Nebula before anywhere else. • Notifications when your favorite creators release a new video • Video downloads for offline viewing Usage of the app and its features requires an active subscription to Nebula. https://nebula.tv/terms

Screenshots

CuriosityStream4 screens
Nebula⁣4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nebula⁣ at 54% against CuriosityStream's 31%. Nebula⁣ also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). CuriosityStream's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, 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

Both are free to download. CuriosityStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Nebula⁣ sells 9 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

Nebula⁣ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.3K and 14K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of CuriosityStream's written reviews are positive against 54% of Nebula⁣'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, Nebula⁣ fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CuriosityStream versus Nebula⁣: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCuriosityStreamNebula⁣
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (6.3K ratings)4.8 (14K ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.7% of reviews54.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6.3K14K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple TV
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB63 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperCuriosityStream, LLCStandard

Customer experience

CuriosityStream

All ratings6,266 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews361 reviews
Positive30.7%
Neutral16.9%
Negative52.4%

Nebula⁣

All ratings14,069 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews683 reviews
Positive54.3%
Neutral17.0%
Negative28.7%

User reviews

CuriosityStream

From 6.3K App Store ratings

What 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

Nebula⁣

From 14K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Ad-free experience
  • 💡 Creator-owned platform
  • 🚀 Smooth app performance
  • 🤩 Excellent content quality
  • 💰 Affordable subscription

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app with crashes and glitches
  • 🔍 Poor content discoverability
  • 🔀 Confusing navigation and lack of user-friendly features
  • 🔇 No background playback or audio-only mode
  • 🔒 Lack of platform-wide login persistence

Bugs and requests

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

Nebula⁣

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Downloaded videos disappearing from the app
  • Inability to exit full-screen mode without restarting the app
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes, especially on older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Chromecast and AirPlay support
  • Implement a 'Watch Later' or 'Continue Watching' feature
  • Allow users to adjust video quality and playback speed
  • Introduce a comments section for user feedback
  • Improve content organization and recommendation algorithms

In-app purchases

6 purchases

CuriosityStream

Subscriptions6
  • Basic$5.991 Month
  • Standard$5.991 Month
  • Smart Bundle$11.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Basic$49.991 Year
  • Standard$49.991 Year
  • Smart Bundle$79.991 Year
9 purchases

Nebula⁣

Subscriptions9
  • MONTHLY$2.991 Month
  • MONTHLY3 variants$4.991 Month
  • MONTHLY$5.001 Month
Show 6 more
  • MONTHLY2 variants$7.001 Month
  • YEARLY$9.991 Year
  • YEARLY$29.991 Year
  • YEARLY2 variants$30.001 Year
  • YEARLY3 variants$49.991 Year
  • YEARLY$60.001 Year

Questions

Is CuriosityStream free?
CuriosityStream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nebula⁣ free?
Nebula⁣ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CuriosityStream or Nebula⁣?
Nebula⁣ is rated higher. CuriosityStream averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Nebula⁣ averages 4.8 from 14K ratings.
Do CuriosityStream or Nebula⁣ have ads?
Neither CuriosityStream nor Nebula⁣ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CuriosityStream or Nebula⁣?
CuriosityStream ships an update monthly, and Nebula⁣ fortnightly. Most recently, CuriosityStream was updated on September 22, 2026 and Nebula⁣ on September 24, 2026.

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