ISS Explorer vs Spacecraft AR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ISS Explorer
Explore a detailed 3D model of the International Space Station. Rotate, zoom, and select individual components to learn about their function and systems. Organize your view by turning parts and labels on or off.
- Interactive 3D ISS model
- Rotate and zoom functionality
- Selectable parts with isolation
- Detailed information on components
- Hierarchical part organization
- Toggle parts and labels
Read full descriptionHide full description
The ISS explorer is an interactive tool for exploring the parts and pieces of the International Space Station (ISS). The application allows the user to view a 3D model of the ISS, rotate it, zoom into it, and select different parts and pieces. When the application starts, you can see a view of the entire ISS with category labels. Tabs are available on the left hand side of the screen which allow you access to information, the hierarchy, settings and application information. From this point, you can zoom into the station, revealing more labels of visible parts. The station can also be rotated to view from different angles. If a part is selected, the part is isolated so that you can focus on the specific piece. The information tab shows information about the currently isolated part. Inside the hierarchy tab, you can turn parts on or off, turn labels for parts on or off, turn parts transparent, or select a part to focus on. The parts are organized in a hierarchy to allow for systems to be described and displayed. This includes things such as truss, modules, and external platforms. The Information tab shows information about the current isolated part, system, or the full ISS if the entire station is shown.
Spacecraft AR
Explore the solar system with interactive 3D models of NASA spacecraft. View them in augmented reality, scaled to your environment, and learn about their missions. Perfect for aspiring astronauts, educators, and space lovers.
- Interactive 3D spacecraft models
- Augmented reality viewing
- True-to-life and adjustable scaling
- Detailed mission information
- In-app camera functionality
- Explore Earth, Mars, and beyond
Read full descriptionHide full description
Created by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this stunning educational app uses native mobile augmented reality to bring spacecraft explorers from across the solar system to whatever space you’re in. Find a flat surface and view interactive 3D models right in front of you, scaled to table-top size or in their true-to-life proportions. Take pics with the spacecraft in your favorite environments, and explore detailed info about their fascinating missions. This tool is excellent for budding astronauts, teachers, and space enthusiasts. Bring NASA’s journey of exploration to life in the classroom, home, or anywhere. Features: Interact with 3D spacecraft models of the Curiosity rover, Mars Exploration Rover (Spirit/Opportunity), InSightSMAP, Voyager, Juno, and Cassini, the 70-Meter Deep Space Network Antenna and more. Learn about missions that explore Earth, Mars, and beyond True-to-life and adjustable size interaction In-depth information about each space mission Camera functionality
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ISS Explorer at 100% against Spacecraft AR's 53%. ISS Explorer also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ISS Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of ISS Explorer's written reviews are positive against 53% of Spacecraft AR's.
ISS Explorer ships an update every 10 months, Spacecraft AR every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ISS Explorer | Spacecraft AR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (16 ratings) — better | 3.1 (25 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 53.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 25 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 747 MB | 160 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Customer experience
ISS Explorer
Spacecraft AR
In-app purchases
ISS Explorer
No in-app purchases
Spacecraft AR
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ISS Explorer free?
Is Spacecraft AR free?
Which has better reviews, ISS Explorer or Spacecraft AR?
Do ISS Explorer or Spacecraft AR have ads?
Which is updated more often, ISS Explorer or Spacecraft AR?
Other comparisons
