CuriosityStream vs Space Channel
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CuriosityStream
Access a vast library of award-winning documentaries on science, nature, history, and more. Enjoy ad-free, downloadable content in HD and 4K across multiple devices, with a dedicated section for kids.
- Unlimited documentary streaming
- Downloadable content for offline viewing
- 4K and HD quality
- Dedicated kids' section (CuriosityKIDS)
- New content added weekly
- Personalized recommendations
- Resume watching on other devices
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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).
Space Channel
This platform delivers global news and entertainment focused on space exploration and industry. It covers commerce, policy, and community developments in low Earth orbit and beyond, offering news, movies, and live coverage.
- Global space news
- Space industry coverage
- Movies and entertainment
- Live programming
- Exclusive events
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Space Channel is the world's premier global news and entertainment media platform dedicated to space. Connecting the stories that will inform the future of commerce, policy, entertainment and community in low Earth Orbit and beyond, Space Channel is available in more than 30 million households worldwide and explores every aspect of the genre with news, movies, exclusive events and live coverage from every sector of the global space industry. You can watch Space Channel’s live programming via Connected (Smart) TV applications as well as online at www.spacechannel.com What's inside today: — Space Economy. A live market terminal for the companies building the space industry: launch providers, satellite operators, imaging and comms. A sector-rank leaderboard, sentiment, breaking sector events, and tap-through detail with interactive charts. — UFO Division. Declassified UAP intelligence, read cold by a six-analyst panel. A daily briefing with a narrated audio read, reopened case files with consensus bars, full analyst dossiers with citations and primary source documents, and a live intelligence wire. — Lunar Command. The race back to the Moon, tracked end-to-end. A live moon-phase observer computed on-device, nation standings, program lanes for Artemis, Chang'e, and the commercial landers with milestone timelines, a daily Mooncast briefing, and a lunar news wire. — Mars Operations. The race to Mars. A live inner-solar-system orrery you can rotate and zoom, a Mars observer with distance, light-time, next opposition and season, program lanes, the active and retired rover and orbiter roster, a Mars image gallery, a daily Marscast, and a Martian wire. — Space Force. The U.S. Space Force in its own command view. The Guardian posture — satellites on orbit, Deltas, Guardians — a daily Fifth Domain intelligence brief with sourced citations, program lanes for National Security Space Launch, the Space Development Agency and more with milestone timelines, a service imagery gallery, a daily briefing, and the Space Force dispatch wire. Space Channel is built around a free membership so your mission control stays in sync across your devices. Create an account in the app to get started. Privacy first: no ads and no third-party trackers. Diagnostics are opt-in and use Apple's MetricKit — anonymous crash and performance data only, nothing personal. For the curious, the obsessed, and anyone who wants the universe in their pocket without the algorithmic shouting. Welcome aboard. More dashboards are on the way.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Space Channel at free against CuriosityStream's subscription. Space Channel also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 31%). CuriosityStream's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 33 months) and ratings volume (6.3K vs 581). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. CuriosityStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Space Channel sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for CuriosityStream against 4.7 for Space Channel. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CuriosityStream has 6.3K ratings behind it against 581, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of CuriosityStream's written reviews are positive against 57% of Space Channel's.
CuriosityStream ships an update every 3 weeks, Space Channel every 33 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CuriosityStream | Space Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (6.3K ratings) | 4.7 (581 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 30.9% of reviews | 57.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6.3K — better | 581 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 33 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 69 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | CuriosityStream, LLC | Space Channel Inc. |
Customer experience
CuriosityStream
Space Channel
User reviews
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
Space Channel
From 581 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📚 Excellent educational content on space topics
- 👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly programming suitable for children
- 🎬 Great selection of classic sci-fi movies
- 💰 Free ad-supported streaming model
- 📺 24/7 continuous space content available
Room to improve
- 🐛 App frequently fails to load or open
- 📵 Persistent offline status issues
- ⚠️ Long-standing technical problems (months)
- 🔔 Intrusive pop-up comments during content
- 😤 Reliability concerns over extended period
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
Space Channel
Reported bugs
4 issues- App won't load or open
- Shows offline status when launched
- Persistent crashes affecting multiple users over months
- Pop-up comments appearing during video playback
Requested features
3 requests- Improved app stability and loading performance
- Option to disable or control pop-up comments
- Better offline functionality
In-app purchases
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
Space Channel
- Space Channel Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
- Space Channel Premium Annual$19.991 Year
- Movie Purchase Tier 1$0.99
- Movie Purchase Tier 2$1.99
- Movie Purchase Tier 5$4.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Movie Purchase Tier 10$9.99
Questions
Is CuriosityStream free?
Is Space Channel free?
Which has better reviews, CuriosityStream or Space Channel?
Do CuriosityStream or Space Channel have ads?
Which is updated more often, CuriosityStream or Space Channel?
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