# Option Explorer vs OptionWave

The clearest difference is ads: OptionWave at none against Option Explorer's shown. OptionWave also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Option Explorer's advantage is ratings volume (156 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Option Explorer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and OptionWave sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OptionWave holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Option Explorer has 156 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Option Explorer ships an update every 4 months, OptionWave every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Option Explorer | OptionWave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/option-explorer/id1175854389/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optionwave/id6657758818/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **156** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 92.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vladimir Doubina](https://appshunter.io/developer/1175854388) | [Jiakuan Li](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562633690) |

## What reviewers say

### Option Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/option-explorer/id1175854389)

This application provides real-time option pricing data for US-based ticker symbols. Monitor key metrics like last price, bid/ask spreads, and volume across various strike prices and expiration dates without needing a brokerage account.

**Highlights:** Option pricing data, Track US ticker symbols, Monitor last price, Bid/ask spreads, Volume tracking, Multiple strike prices, Multiple expiration dates

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free OE Premium | $0.99 | per month |


### OptionWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optionwave/id6657758818)

Monitor unusual option trades in real-time with live data and customizable filters. Receive smart notifications for trades matching your criteria to optimize your trading strategy and stay ahead of market trends.

**Highlights:** Real-time live feed of unusual option trades, Customizable filters for trade data, Personalized smart notification alerts, User-friendly interface for all experience levels, Detailed analysis and reporting for market insights

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OptionWave Premium Membership | $29.99 | per month |
| OptionWave Premium Membership | $299.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Option Explorer free?

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

### Is OptionWave free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Option Explorer or OptionWave?

OptionWave is rated higher. Option Explorer averages 4.7 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while OptionWave averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Option Explorer or OptionWave have ads?

Option Explorer shows ads; OptionWave does not.

### Which is updated more often, Option Explorer or OptionWave?

Option Explorer ships an update every 4 months, and OptionWave every 3 weeks. Most recently, Option Explorer was updated on October 7, 2026 and OptionWave on October 2, 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.*