ISS Detector vs HamStudy.org
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ISS Detector
Easily track the International Space Station and other satellites. Receive timely alarms before passes and get weather condition checks for optimal viewing. Enhance functionality with optional in-app purchases to discover more celestial objects.
- ISS tracking and alerts
- Weather condition checks
- Alarm notifications
- Track Starlink trains
- Track Hubble telescope
- Track amateur radio satellites
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Have you seen the International Space Station? It is visible with the naked eye! This is the easiest way to spot the station. ISS Detector will tell you when and where to look for the ISS. You get an alarm a few minutes before a pass. You will never miss it. ISS Detector will also check if the weather conditions are right. A clear sky is perfect for spotting. Premium will enhance the functionality of ISS Detector. With the subscription you can add many famous satellites and amateur radio satellites. See the Starlink satellite trains, Hubble space telescope, rocket bodies, Vanguard 1 and many bright satellites. Available categories in Premium: Radio Amateur Satellites: Track dozens of ham and weather satellites. Starlink: Track Starlink satellite trains. Famous Objects: Hubble Space Telescope, rocket bodies, bright satellites and more. Comets: Find comets in the night sky. You might need binoculars or a telescope to see them Planets: Find all the planets Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
HamStudy.org
This app offers an intelligent study mode that tracks your progress and focuses on areas where you struggle. It allows you to tailor your study to specific chapters and topics from license manuals, with explanations for difficult questions. Practice exams are also available.
- Intelligent study algorithms
- Vetted user-submitted explanations
- Infinite practice exams
- Study all US Amateur Radio question pools
- International question pools
- Multi-user support
- Cross-device progress sync
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HamStudy is not your typical study app. Most study apps focus on practice exams, which is like studying for your math test by trying 20% of the questions on repeat. Study smarter with HamStudy. Instead of taking practice tests with random questions over and over, our intelligent Study Mode tracks your progress as you move through the questions—what you’ve seen, what you haven’t, and where you’re struggling—and focuses your study on the questions you need to see most. Full statistics are provided along the way, giving you insight into how many times you’ve gotten a question right or wrong as well as your overall study progress. Don’t worry, you can still take practice exams whenever you want. You won’t find a better tool to use alongside your favorite learning material. Through collaboration with some of the most recognized names in amateur radio, HamStudy allows you to simply choose from a selection of license manuals, then instantly adapts so you can match your study to the chapters, topics, and sections you’re used to†. Want to study just the questions from chapters 4 and 5? No problem. And when a question trips you up, just tap the Explain button to understand what you missed, review formulas, and read helpful study tips. Features: • HamStudy's intelligent study algorithms work with you to ensure you learn the questions, tracking your progress and adjusting the pace to keep you challenged but not frustrated. • Vetted user-submitted explanations help you avoid the pitfall of just memorizing answers. • Infinite practice exams. Fun fact: it takes around 70 practice exams before you’ll see every Technician question just once. Study more, test less! • Study all current US Amateur Radio question pools: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. Updates are downloaded automatically, and new pools are always included free when they are revised every four years. • English and Spanish translations included for US Amateur Radio pools. • Includes an ever-growing selection of international question pools, such as Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Argentina. • Supports multiple users on the same device, each with independent study history. • Sync your progress across all devices and study online with a free hamstudy.org account. • Share your progress with friends, instructors, or other HamStudy.org users and help each other keep progressing towards that next license exam! HamStudy is proud to be sponsored by Icom. † Disclaimer: HamStudy does not contain the actual instructional material from linked books, but works great with the book sitting on the table next to you! Images, names, and trademarks used with permission.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ISS Detector at Free against HamStudy.org's $3.99. HamStudy.org's advantage is review sentiment (94% vs 55%) and in-app purchases (none vs 13). On update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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
ISS Detector is free to download; HamStudy.org costs $3.99 up front. ISS Detector sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. HamStudy.org asks for nothing beyond the download.
HamStudy.org holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 633 and 2.7K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of ISS Detector's written reviews are positive against 94% of HamStudy.org's.
ISS Detector ships an update monthly, HamStudy.org every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ISS Detector | HamStudy.org |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (633 ratings) | 4.9 (2.7K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.4% of reviews | 93.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 633 | 2.7K — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #5 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Derk Vrijdag | Signal Stuff |
Customer experience
ISS Detector
HamStudy.org
Bugs and requests
ISS Detector
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
HamStudy.org
Reported bugs
2 issues- Email support not working
- Occasional freezing or crashing
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to clear test history
- More detailed performance analytics
- Spell out acronyms and define technical terms
In-app purchases
ISS Detector
- Premium Access2 variants$0.991 Month
- Donation$1.991 Month
- Premium Access$1.991 Month
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- Premium Access$2.991 Year
- Premium Access7 Days trial$5.991 Year
- Donation2 variants$5.991 Year
- Premium Access7 Days trial$11.991 Year
- Starlink and Famous objects$3.99
- Amateur Radio Satellites$3.99
- Comets and Planets$3.99
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- Combo package$5.99
HamStudy.org
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ISS Detector free?
Is HamStudy.org free?
Which has better reviews, ISS Detector or HamStudy.org?
Do ISS Detector or HamStudy.org have ads?
Which is updated more often, ISS Detector or HamStudy.org?
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