# Google Earth vs Prospector

The clearest difference is price: Google Earth at Free against Prospector's $1.99. Google Earth also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and chart position (#15 vs unranked). Prospector's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Google Earth is free to download; Prospector costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Google Earth ships an update fortnightly, Prospector every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Earth | Prospector |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.0 (47K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-earth/id293622097/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **47K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 46.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#15** | — |
| Size | 158 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [N Howe](https://appshunter.io/developer/662757460) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Earth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-earth/id293622097)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Free · Travel (US App Store)

Explore the world with high-resolution satellite imagery and 3D terrain. Dive into streets with Street View and create collaborative, data-driven maps from anywhere.

**Highlights:** High-resolution satellite imagery, 3D terrain and building exploration, Street View 360° perspectives, Create and collaborate on maps, Data-driven mapping

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌎 Ability to explore the world
- 👍 Useful for geography and education
- 🌍 Detailed satellite and street view imagery
- 🎨 3D mode for immersive experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Outdated imagery and maps
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific locations
- 🚧 Blurred or missing details in some areas
- 🛑 Restricted access to certain regions

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes on mobile devices
- Inconsistent performance and quality across platforms
- Issues with loading and displaying street view

**Requested features**

- Update satellite and street view imagery more frequently
- Improve search and navigation functionality
- Add more 3D coverage for cities and landmarks
- Introduce a night mode or time-of-day feature
- Allow users to report outdated or missing information


### Prospector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prospector/id1491647790)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Earth free?

Google Earth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Prospector free?

Prospector costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Google Earth or Prospector have ads?

Neither Google Earth nor Prospector shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Google Earth or Prospector?

Google Earth ships an update fortnightly, and Prospector every 5 months. Most recently, Google Earth was updated on October 17, 2026 and Prospector on October 9, 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.*