# Backyard Apollo AR vs Pocket Rocket

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backyard Apollo AR at none against Pocket Rocket's 6. Backyard Apollo AR also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). Pocket Rocket's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Rocket sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Backyard Apollo AR asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backyard Apollo AR holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 522 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Backyard Apollo AR's written reviews are positive against 52% of Pocket Rocket's.

Backyard Apollo AR ships an update every 7 months, Pocket Rocket every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backyard Apollo AR | Pocket Rocket |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-apollo-ar/id1258795104/reviews)** | [4.5 (522 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-rocket/id1493916909/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 522 |
| Positive reviews | **70.6% of reviews** | 52.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 82 MB | 702 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wobbleworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/404664339) | [Voyager Space Systems, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1493916908) |

## What reviewers say

### Backyard Apollo AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-apollo-ar/id1258795104)

Experience a life-sized Apollo Saturn V rocket in augmented reality. Explore it from all angles, walk around it, and launch it with realistic sounds and visuals. Customize your rocket experience and share snapshots.

**Highlights:** Life-sized rocket model, 360-degree viewing, Augmented reality placement, Realistic launch sequence, Authentic mission sounds, Customizable rocket experience, Snapshot sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic rocket simulation
- 👍 Engaging and educational experience
- 💡 Potential for more rocket models
- 👍 Free to download

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Camera authorization issues
- 🔋 High memory and storage usage
- 🐛 Compatibility problems on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Startup crashes and sensor reset loops
- Rocket launch sequence freezes
- Persistent audio issues after app closure

**Requested features**

- Add more rocket models and launch configurations
- Implement video recording capability
- Improve overall stability and performance


### Pocket Rocket

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-rocket/id1493916909)

Stay informed about all upcoming SpaceX rocket launches with real-time updates and reminders. View rocket models, livestream launches, and interact with rockets in AR. Never miss a historic moment in space exploration.

**Highlights:** Upcoming launch reminders, Launch date countdowns, Livestream launches, 3D and AR rocket models, Detailed launch updates, Historical launch viewing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pocket Rocket Plus | $2.99 | per month |
| Pocket Rocket Silver | $4.99 | per month |
| Pocket Rocket Gold | $9.99 | per month |
| Pocket Rocket Plus (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Pocket Rocket Silver (Yearly) | $44.99 | per year |
| Pocket Rocket Gold (Yearly) | $74.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Awesome AR features
- 👍 Beautiful and sleek design
- 🚀 Detailed rocket models
- 👍 Useful launch countdown and notifications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes, especially with AR
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Lack of up-to-date launch information

**Reported bugs**

- AR feature crashes on launch
- Incorrect or outdated launch information
- Unreliable push notifications

**Requested features**

- Add support for other launch providers beyond SpaceX
- Improve reliability and accuracy of launch notifications
- Provide a 1:1 scale mode for AR rockets
- Develop an iPad-optimized version of the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backyard Apollo AR free?

Backyard Apollo AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pocket Rocket free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Backyard Apollo AR or Pocket Rocket?

Backyard Apollo AR is rated higher. Backyard Apollo AR averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Pocket Rocket averages 4.5 from 522 ratings.

### Do Backyard Apollo AR or Pocket Rocket have ads?

Neither Backyard Apollo AR nor Pocket Rocket shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backyard Apollo AR or Pocket Rocket?

Backyard Apollo AR ships an update every 7 months, and Pocket Rocket every 2 months. Most recently, Backyard Apollo AR was updated on September 23, 2026 and Pocket Rocket on September 21, 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.*