# Duke Explore vs Sidetrip

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Duke Explore at none against Sidetrip's 1. Duke Explore also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Sidetrip's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sidetrip sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Duke Explore asks for nothing beyond the download.

Duke Explore ships an update every 6 months, Sidetrip every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Duke Explore | Sidetrip |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Size | 155 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Duke University](https://appshunter.io/developer/306796273) | [Eduardo Almeida](https://appshunter.io/developer/1366596748) |

## What reviewers say

### Duke Explore

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duke-explore/id1094848685)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sidetrip

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidetrip/id6759905593)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sidetrip Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Duke Explore free?

Duke Explore is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sidetrip free?

Sidetrip is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Duke Explore or Sidetrip have ads?

Neither Duke Explore nor Sidetrip shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Duke Explore or Sidetrip?

Duke Explore ships an update every 6 months, and Sidetrip every 9 days. Most recently, Duke Explore was updated on October 5, 2026 and Sidetrip on October 2, 2026.

---

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