Comparison

ISS Real vs Supercluster

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

Head to head
About

ISS Real

Visualize the International Space Station, Tiangong, and Hubble in real-time 3D. Get precise flyover predictions up to 30 days in advance with a star rating system. Stream live HD video from the ISS and learn about the current crew.

Highlights
  • Real-time 3D satellite tracking
  • Predictive flyover alerts
  • Interactive Earth globe
  • Live HD Earth video stream
  • Crew information and bios
  • Apple Watch widgets
Features
Read full description

Track and predict flyovers of the International Space Station, Tiangong (Chinese Space Station), and Hubble Space Telescope in stunning, real-time 3D. Immerse yourself in a photorealistic globe of Earth, showcasing orbital paths and live positions for the three largest objects in low Earth orbit—optimized for iPhone, Apple Watch, and Macs with Apple silicon. Plan up to 30 days ahead with precise, location-based pass predictions, complete with a custom 0–4 star rating system that highlights the most visible flyovers. Tap to add passes to your calendar and never miss a moment. Key Features: • Real-Time Tracking: Follow the ISS, Tiangong, and Hubble with interactive 3D visuals and high-frame-rate animations. • Flyover Ratings: Instantly spot the best viewing opportunities with our intuitive star rating system. • 3D SkyDome View: See the arc of each pass from your location with a rotatable sky overlay. • Dynamic Earth Globe: View live positions, orbits, the Earth’s axis, solar reflections, subsolar point, and day/night transitions. • Crew Info: Meet the current crew, read bios, view mission stats, and connect via X (Twitter). • Alerts & Scheduling: Get automatic reminders 1 hour and 15 minutes before passes—just tap to schedule. • Live HD Earth Video: Stream from the ISS’s Harmony node in real time. • Map Customization: Choose from multiple map marker styles and zoom options. • Ambient Music: Enhance your stargazing experience with optional background music. • Info Overlay: View current satellite position, altitude, and speed at a glance. • Companion Apple Watch App: Includes Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets for quick access. • All Settings Saved: Preferences like zoom level and map style are saved for your convenience. I created this app to bring the awe of space exploration right to your fingertips. Join me on this journey—and never miss a pass again.

About

Supercluster

Stay updated on all space missions with live launch tracking, detailed spacecraft specs, and original photography. Explore an interactive astronaut database, monitor space stations, and even get notifications for when the ISS is visible from your location.

Highlights
  • Live launch tracking and schedules
  • Interactive astronaut database
  • Space station monitoring (ISS, Tiangong)
  • ISS sighting notifications
  • Spacecraft and payload specifications
  • Original spaceflight photography
Features
Read full description

Supercluster is your homebase for everything happening in space. The Launch Tracker keeps you up to the minute on every space mission happening anywhere on Earth. Stream launches live, get notifications, and learn about spacecraft and payload specs — with launch coverage and images from the Supercluster network, including some of the top space photographers working today. For crewed missions, go deeper with our interactive Astronaut Database, the most complete record of every living thing to leave planet Earth. Browse and sort astronauts by craft, mission, and nations. Research all-time space record holders, and explore the new world of commercial spaceflight. All missions to the International Space Station and China’s Tiangong Space Station can be monitored via our Stations Dashboard. Follow vehicles dispatched by SpaceX, Roscosmos, and others, and keep up with crewmembers ferried to each station. Maps show the global positions of each orbiting laboratory, and a timetable records arrivals and future departures. Want to see the ISS for yourself? Just look up. The Supercluster App now integrates Space Station Sightings — select notifications to receive updates when the ISS is above you, check visibility ratings, and get directions for where and when to look. Space is closer than you think. FEATURES — Track Launches - Rocket Launch Schedule - Push Notifications — Never Miss A Launch - Live Stream Right Through The App - Original Spaceflight Photography - International Missions, Experimental Launches, And Classified Government Payloads. - Around The Clock Updates And Monitoring - Search Through Past Historic Launches - Rocket Updates And Tech Specs - Payload Information - Launch And Landing Pad Details - Featured Articles — Search Astronauts - Every Living Thing to Leave Planet Earth - Who is Currently in Space? - Search Humans, Animals, Fungi, (Even Robots) - Filter by SpaceCraft, Missions, Nations - Compare Astronaut Record and Statistics - See Shared Missions Across Multiple Crews - Learn Space Travel History - Discover Surprising Patterns in Spaceflight — Follow Space Stations - Every Docked Spacecraft - Onboard Crew Profiles - Arrival and Departure Schedules - View ISS Overhead - Track Location Above Earth - Integrates with Astronaut Database

Screenshots

ISS Real4 screens
Supercluster4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Supercluster at Free against ISS Real's $2.99. Supercluster also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). ISS Real's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Supercluster is free to download; ISS Real costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ISS Real holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ISS Real has 1.2K ratings behind it against 190, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of ISS Real's written reviews are positive against 69% of Supercluster's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ISS Real ships an update every 4 days, Supercluster monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ISS Real versus Supercluster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterISS RealSupercluster
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (1.2K ratings) — better4.4 (190 ratings)
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews69.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.2K — better190
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size258 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael StebelSupercluster LLC

Customer experience

ISS Real

All ratings1,171 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral1.5%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews112 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral2.7%
Negative34.8%

Supercluster

All ratings190 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral3.2%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral6.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

ISS Real

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Supercluster

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes randomly when reading articles or launch details
  • Notifications not working despite being enabled in settings
  • Missed launches not appearing in app schedule
  • ISS location display ahead of actual position
  • Conflicting notification alerts vs. app display for viewing opportunities
Show 5 more
  • App stuck on 'Loading...' screen indefinitely
  • Unable to get past notification permission popup
  • Inaccurate ISS and Tiangong tracking information
  • App won't update after scrubbed or postponed launches
  • Inconsistent notification delivery timing

Requested features

14 requests
  • Location-based filtering (e.g., Cape Canaveral only)
  • Dark mode for night launches
  • Apple Watch app support
  • Home screen and lock screen widgets
  • Fine-tuned notification settings (visibility, altitude, brightness)
Show 9 more
  • Launch azimuth information for photography
  • TV app with auto-scrolling launch schedule
  • Separate list for space tourists vs. professional astronauts
  • Filter notifications by mission type (crewed, first flight, test flight)
  • Auto-update location detection
  • YouTube livestream integration
  • Apple TV native app support
  • Calendar integration (EventKit)
  • Trajectory information for launch viewing

In-app purchases

None

ISS Real

No in-app purchases

None

Supercluster

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ISS Real free?
ISS Real costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Supercluster free?
Supercluster is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ISS Real or Supercluster?
ISS Real is rated higher. ISS Real averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Supercluster averages 4.4 from 190 ratings.
Do ISS Real or Supercluster have ads?
Neither ISS Real nor Supercluster shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ISS Real or Supercluster?
ISS Real ships an update every 4 days, and Supercluster monthly. Most recently, ISS Real was updated on October 24, 2026 and Supercluster on October 24, 2026.

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