Comparison

Satellite Tracker vs HFpager

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Satellite Tracker

Track satellites, the Sun, and the Moon with rise/set times and visibility calculations. Visualize Earth with 3D globe or 2D map views and customize tracking options. Offers free basic functionality with optional subscriptions for expanded satellite access.

Highlights
  • Satellite, Sun, and Moon tracking
  • Rise/set times and visibility calculations
  • 3D globe and 2D map Earth views
  • Customizable tracking options
  • Free basic functionality
  • Optional satellite subscription plans
Features
Read full description

Satellite Tracker is the follow on to our award winning HamSat series of applications. Satellite Tracker merges all the features of the iPhone and iPad versions providing you a single application that seamlessly optimizes the screen to the device you’re running it on (check out the various iPhone and iPad screen shots). The application will calculate the rise/set times and associated azimuth and elevation for the selected satellite, Sun or Moon given either the user entered or network retrieved location. There are two modes for satellite rise/set calculations. The first is for those folks wanting to know all overflights for a given location (like Ham radio operators) while the second mode computes only those passes where the satellite would be visible to a ground observer. In the ground observer mode, the calculations not only take into account that the ground is dark but also that the satellite is in sunlight (it even takes into account if the satellite becomes lit or unlit during the pass) In addition, you can see the Earth rendered either as a 3D globe or a 2D map using photo realistic texture maps for the Earth model. The orientation of the map is easily changed by a simple rotation of the device from portrait (3D) to landscape (2D). In either orientation you can zoom in and out as well as pan using the touch screen. There are more than a dozen controls provided to allow you to customize how the application works to meet your specific needs (type of Earth texture used, location, type of overflight calculated…) Finally, the application is now free to download and provides full functionality for tracking, viewing and communicating with the International Space Station (what was the capability of the ISS family of paid apps). The following subscriptions are available for tracking and communicating with a larger set of satellites: -HamSat (Annual and Monthly): Provides access to the NORAD and AMSAT two line element sets which cover all amateur related satellites. -ProSat (Annual and Monthly): Provides access to thousands of satellites grouped into the following categories (from www.celestrak.com): -100 (or so) Brightest -Last 30 Day’s Launches (or so) -Amateur Ham Radio Satellites -CubeSats -Disaster Monitoring -Earth Resources -Education -Engineering -Geodetic -Geostationary -GOES -GPS Operational -Intelsat -Iridium -Molniya -NOAA -Orbcomm -Search & Rescue (SARSAT) -Space & Earth Science -Space Station -Weather To get a feel for the apps, please checkout the iPad quickstart video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiHCGxV0WM8) and associated user’s guide (http://www.vosworx.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SatSeriesHD.pdf) or the iPhone quickstart video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuPccQI9oSg) and it’s user’s guide (http://www.vosworx.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SatSeries.pdf). Please note that InApp payments will be charged to your AppleID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. For more information, please visit our Terms of Service at http://www.vosworx.com/terms-of-service-for-app and our Privacy Policy at http://www.vosworx.com/privacy-policy-for-apps. Thanks to everyone who has sent in their questions/requests and keep them coming! -Craig (support@vosworx.com)

About

HFpager

This utility app enables the exchange of short text messages through audio and radio channels using IFSK modulation. It offers basic reception and transmission functions for free, with a subscription unlocking all features and removing ads.

Highlights
  • IFSK modulation for audio messaging
  • Send and receive short text messages
  • Utilizes audio and radio channels
  • Basic functions free
  • Subscription removes restrictions and ads
Read full description

The program is designed to generate and receive an audio signal using IFSK (Incremental Frequency Shift Keying) modulation. Used to exchange short text messages via any audio and / or radio channel. For a detailed description, see the project website https://nvis.club/hfproxys/hfpager/hf-pager Basic functions work without a subscription: reception / transmission. With a subscription, all restrictions are removed and there is no advertising. Privacy Policy and User Agreement: https://ildd.ru/bi/hfpager/hfpager_politica/

Screenshots

Satellite Tracker4 screens
HFpager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Satellite Tracker at none against HFpager's shown. Satellite Tracker also leads on rating (3.4 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (13 vs 1). HFpager's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 44%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Satellite Tracker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and HFpager sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Satellite Tracker holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Satellite Tracker has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Satellite Tracker's written reviews are positive against 71% of HFpager's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 21, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Satellite Tracker versus HFpager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSatellite TrackerHFpager
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (13 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews71.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig VosburghDmitry Likhtarov

Customer experience

Satellite Tracker

All ratings13 ratings
Positive61.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative30.8%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%

HFpager

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral28.6%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Satellite Tracker

Subscriptions4
  • Amateur Satellites Monthly$1.491 Month
  • All Satellites Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Amateur Satellites Annual$8.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • All Satellites Annual$11.991 Year
1 purchases

HFpager

Subscriptions1
  • Подписка 12 месяцев7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Satellite Tracker free?
Satellite Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HFpager free?
HFpager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Satellite Tracker or HFpager?
Satellite Tracker is rated higher. Satellite Tracker averages 3.4 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while HFpager averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Satellite Tracker or HFpager have ads?
HFpager shows ads; Satellite Tracker does not.
Which is updated more often, Satellite Tracker or HFpager?
Satellite Tracker ships an update every 3 months, and HFpager every 3 months. Most recently, Satellite Tracker was updated on August 21, 2026 and HFpager on June 4, 2026.

Other comparisons