# LaRC Alerts vs Next Spaceflight

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Next Spaceflight at 91% against LaRC Alerts's 0%. Next Spaceflight also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). LaRC Alerts's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Next Spaceflight holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Next Spaceflight has 29K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of LaRC Alerts's written reviews are positive against 91% of Next Spaceflight's.

LaRC Alerts ships an update every 10 months, Next Spaceflight every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LaRC Alerts | Next Spaceflight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/larc-alerts/id1104412297/reviews) | **[4.9 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-spaceflight/id1448055760/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **29K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **91.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#107** |
| Size | 20 MB | 90 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [NASASpaceflight LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699305076) |

## What reviewers say

### LaRC Alerts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/larc-alerts/id1104412297)

Get immediate notifications for weather, fire, security, and safety emergencies affecting Langley Research Center. This app provides critical updates directly from Center Emergency Management personnel to keep you informed about on-site conditions.

**Highlights:** Emergency event alerts, Weather notifications, Safety alerts, Fire alerts, Security alerts, On-site condition updates

**In-app purchases:** none


### Next Spaceflight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-spaceflight/id1448055760)

**Currently charting:** #107 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Track all orbital rocket launches with a comprehensive schedule, news, and event updates. Explore detailed mission information, 3D simulations, and live countdowns for major space agencies and private companies. Stay informed about Starship activity and access links to live streams.

**Highlights:** Rocket launch schedule, 3D launch simulations, Past launch catalog, Starship activity tracker, Live launch countdowns, Latest space news, Launch pad satellite maps

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate launch information
- 🔍 Detailed launch data and history
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🌍 Covers launches from around the world
- 🔔 Helpful notifications for launches

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional performance issues
- 🔔 Notification settings could be improved
- 🌐 Lacks location-specific launch notifications
- 🔍 Some information could be better organized
- 🔄 Slow to update with the latest launch details

**Reported bugs**

- Favorites filter not working as expected
- Starship section not updating with latest information

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to add launches to calendar
- More customizable notification settings
- Spacecraft/vehicle search functionality
- Integration with Apple Watch for quick updates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LaRC Alerts free?

LaRC Alerts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Next Spaceflight free?

Next Spaceflight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LaRC Alerts or Next Spaceflight?

Next Spaceflight is rated higher. LaRC Alerts averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Next Spaceflight averages 4.9 from 29K ratings.

### Do LaRC Alerts or Next Spaceflight have ads?

Neither LaRC Alerts nor Next Spaceflight shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LaRC Alerts or Next Spaceflight?

LaRC Alerts ships an update every 10 months, and Next Spaceflight every 3 weeks. Most recently, LaRC Alerts was updated on October 24, 2026 and Next Spaceflight on October 26, 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.*