NASA vs Satellite Chasers
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NASA
Explore the universe with access to live and on-demand NASA+ videos, a vast collection of stunning images, and the latest mission news. Discover interactive augmented reality experiences and track the International Space Station's path.
- NASA+ video streaming
- 21,000+ NASA images
- Latest NASA news
- Mission updates
- Podcasts
- ISS tracking and Sky View
- Augmented reality experiences
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The redesigned NASA App unlocks access to the new NASA+ video streaming service, plus all the latest NASA images, news, mission information, podcasts, and interactive augmented reality experiences to explore -- putting the universe at your fingertips! With the NASA App, you'll be able to: • Explore with unlimited access to NASA+, featuring all of NASA's official live coverage and original on-demand video series. No subscription required. • Easily view over 21,000 of the latest NASA images • Rate images and explore all of the highest rated ones • Read all the latest NASA news and feature articles • Get the latest updates on Artemis, the James Webb Space Telescope, and other exciting NASA missions. • Listen to our podcasts featuring astronauts and experts who take you on a tour of the galaxy without ever leaving Earth. • Set an alert for when the International Space Station will fly over your location and use the Sky View feature to help you locate the station during the visible pass • Experience our rovers and rockets up close and personal with augmented reality. • And so much more! Download the updated NASA App now!
Satellite Chasers
Explore the cosmos with this app that tracks nearly 50,000 orbital objects using augmented reality. Discover when satellites will be overhead, read space news, and customize their appearance. Compete with friends on a leaderboard and personalize your viewing experience.
- Track 50,000+ orbital objects
- Augmented Reality satellite viewing
- Real-time satellite addition
- Overhead pass notifications
- Integrated space news
- Satellite customization
- Leaderboard and friend system
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Satellite Chasers lets you explore the real satellite catalog from your phone, including active satellites, rocket bodies, debris, and newly added objects soon after launch. Point your phone at the sky in AR to see what is overhead, or explore satellites over the globe. Track satellites, launches, predicted decays, and conjunctions, which are close approaches between objects in orbit that may indicate potential collision risk. Features include: - Track tens of thousands of objects cataloged in Earth orbit - Use AR to see satellites overhead through your phone’s camera - Play SatSpot, a satellite pointing challenge where your aim determines your check-in points - Get notifications for predicted decays, conjunctions, launches, and newly added satellites - Search launches and see what flew together - Read space news connected to satellites, launches, and orbital activity - View satellite images, descriptions, radio/transmitter data from SatNOGS, and select NASA 3D models - Customize filters to show the satellites you care about - Check in with nearby satellites, earn points, and compete on leaderboards - Favorite satellites and organize your personal Orbit of friends Whether you are a space nerd, ham radio operator, sky watcher, or just curious about what is passing overhead, Satellite Chasers gives you a playful way to explore orbit in real time.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NASA at none against Satellite Chasers's 2. NASA also leads on ratings volume (64K vs 26) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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. Satellite Chasers sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NASA asks for nothing beyond the download.
NASA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NASA has 64K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of NASA's written reviews are positive against 75% of Satellite Chasers's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, Satellite Chasers every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | NASA | Satellite Chasers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) — better | 4.5 (26 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | 26 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Austin Griffith |
Customer experience
NASA
Satellite Chasers
Bugs and requests
NASA
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on launch for some devices
- Inability to close/exit image viewer
- Notifications not working as expected
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Add live streaming of NASA TV
- Improve navigation and search
- Implement dark mode option
- Bring back old features (e.g. APOD widget, ISS sightings)
- Enhance 3D models and AR capabilities
Satellite Chasers
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NASA
No in-app purchases
Satellite Chasers
- Remove Ads$1.99
- Remove Ads & Buy Me A Coffee$4.99








