# PAX Nav vs Pocket Beacon

The clearest difference is monetization model: PAX Nav at ad-supported against Pocket Beacon's subscription. Pocket Beacon's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (366 vs 86). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.2 for PAX Nav against 3.3 for Pocket Beacon. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 86 and 366 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 28% and 28% positive.

PAX Nav ships an update every 4 months, Pocket Beacon fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PAX Nav | Pocket Beacon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pax-nav/id1671655541/reviews) | **[3.3 (366 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-beacon/id6477957665/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 86 | **366** |
| Positive reviews | **28.0% of reviews** | 27.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 32 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Reed Elsevier Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/387940180) | [Critical Role Productions, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731211696) |

## What reviewers say

### PAX Nav

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pax-nav/id1671655541)

Access the full schedule, exhibitor lists, and maps for official PAX events. Discover show specials and engage with PAX XP features.

**Highlights:** Full event schedule, Exhibitor lists, Interactive maps, Show specials, PAX XP access

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pocket Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-beacon/id6477957665)

Unlock exclusive content and benefits for fans of a popular web series. Enjoy ad-free viewing, early access to events, merchandise discounts, and bonus episodes. Support independent creator-owned media.

**Highlights:** Ad-free access to video and podcast library, Exclusive pre-sales for live events, Invitation to a private Discord server, Persistent merchandise discount, Bonus content (Cooldown, Fireside Chats), Same-day podcast releases

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth streaming
- 🎥 Great content organization
- 💰 Good value for subscription
- 👍 Easy to navigate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Inconsistent progress tracking
- 🔇 No background audio playback
- 🔒 Repeated login issues

**Reported bugs**

- Videos starting from the beginning
- Freezing when switching to audio mode
- Inconsistent behavior when locking screen

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-picture mode
- Offline video downloads
- Customizable playback controls
- Apple TV app support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PAX Nav free?

PAX Nav is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pocket Beacon free?

Pocket Beacon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PAX Nav or Pocket Beacon?

Pocket Beacon is rated higher. PAX Nav averages 3.2 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while Pocket Beacon averages 3.3 from 366 ratings.

### Do PAX Nav or Pocket Beacon have ads?

Neither PAX Nav nor Pocket Beacon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PAX Nav or Pocket Beacon?

PAX Nav ships an update every 4 months, and Pocket Beacon fortnightly. Most recently, PAX Nav was updated on October 27, 2026 and Pocket Beacon on October 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.*