# CuriosityStream vs Nebula⁣

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | CuriosityStream | Nebula⁣ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624/reviews) | **[4.8 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nebula/id1447033725/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6.3K | **14K** |
| Positive reviews | 30.7% of reviews | **54.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Size | 44 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CuriosityStream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/971830623) | [Standard](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447033724) |

## What reviewers say

### CuriosityStream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/curiositystream/id971830624)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic | $5.99 | per month |
| Standard | $5.99 | per month |
| Smart Bundle | $11.99 | per month |
| Basic | $49.99 | per year |
| Standard | $49.99 | per year |
| Smart Bundle | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great content
- 💡 Excellent value for money
- 👍 Diverse range of documentaries
- 👍 Informative and educational

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🐛 Streaming issues and buffering problems
- 🐛 Poor user interface and navigation
- 🐛 Chromecast/casting support issues
- 🐛 Inconsistent playback controls

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Videos not resuming from last position
- Casting issues and video playback problems
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps

**Requested features**

- Offline downloads
- Profiles/multiple user support
- Improved search and recommendation features
- Better integration with TV platforms
- Customizable playback controls


### Nebula⁣

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nebula/id1447033725)

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:** Family Sharing, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MONTHLY | $2.99 | per month |
| MONTHLY | $4.99 | per month |
| MONTHLY | $5.00 | per month |
| MONTHLY | $7.00 | per month |
| YEARLY | $9.99 | per year |
| YEARLY | $29.99 | per year |
| YEARLY | $30.00 | per year |
| YEARLY | $49.99 | per year |
| YEARLY | $60.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*