NASA vs Planes Live
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!
Planes Live
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Planes Live lets you check current plane positions all over the world. It's free, fast and.. has no ads. Ever wondered what plane just came over you, what speed, velocity, what carrier?, now you can check it in the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: NASA at every 2 weeks against Planes Live's every 47 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, Planes Live every 47 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NASA | Planes Live |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 47 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Robert Maciaszczyk |
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
Planes Live
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NASA
No in-app purchases
Planes Live
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is NASA free?
Is Planes Live free?
Do NASA or Planes Live have ads?
Which is updated more often, NASA or Planes Live?
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