# Next Spaceflight vs LaunchX

The clearest difference is rating: Next Spaceflight at 4.9 against LaunchX's 4.2. Next Spaceflight also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). LaunchX's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 91%). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LaunchX sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Next Spaceflight asks for nothing beyond the download.

Next Spaceflight holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Next Spaceflight has 27K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of Next Spaceflight's written reviews are positive against 100% of LaunchX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Next Spaceflight | LaunchX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-spaceflight/id1448055760/reviews)** | [4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/launchx-rocket-launch-tracker/id6745711682/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 74 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASASpaceflight LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699305076) | [Haukel GbR](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813431202) |

## What reviewers say

### Next Spaceflight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-spaceflight/id1448055760)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · News (US App Store)

Track all orbital rocket launches with a comprehensive schedule, news, and event updates. Explore detailed mission information, 3D simulations, and live countdowns for major space agencies and private companies. Stay informed about Starship activity and access links to live streams.

**Highlights:** Rocket launch schedule, 3D launch simulations, Past launch catalog, Starship activity tracker, Live launch countdowns, Latest space news, Launch pad satellite maps

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate launch information
- 🔍 Detailed launch data and history
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🌍 Covers launches from around the world
- 🔔 Helpful notifications for launches

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional performance issues
- 🔔 Notification settings could be improved
- 🌐 Lacks location-specific launch notifications
- 🔍 Some information could be better organized
- 🔄 Slow to update with the latest launch details

**Reported bugs**

- Favorites filter not working as expected
- Starship section not updating with latest information

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to add launches to calendar
- More customizable notification settings
- Spacecraft/vehicle search functionality
- Integration with Apple Watch for quick updates


### LaunchX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/launchx-rocket-launch-tracker/id6745711682)

Stay updated on all rocket launches with real-time countdowns, schedules, and official livestream links. Track missions from major space agencies and receive customizable push notifications for liftoffs and significant events. Explore premium features like satellite tracking and aurora forecasts.

**Highlights:** Live rocket launch countdowns, Real-time schedule updates, Official livestream links, Push notifications for launches, Launch calendar with mission details, SpaceX, NASA, and Artemis tracking, Premium satellite and ISS tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LaunchX Pro (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| LaunchX Pro (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Next Spaceflight free?

Next Spaceflight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is LaunchX free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Next Spaceflight or LaunchX?

Next Spaceflight is rated higher. Next Spaceflight averages 4.9 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while LaunchX averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Next Spaceflight or LaunchX have ads?

LaunchX shows ads; Next Spaceflight does not.

### Which is updated more often, Next Spaceflight or LaunchX?

Next Spaceflight ships an update every 3 weeks, and LaunchX every 3 weeks. Most recently, Next Spaceflight was updated on October 13, 2026 and LaunchX on September 30, 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.*