# NASA vs Plane Identifier

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NASA at none against Plane Identifier's 2. NASA also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (64K vs 9). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Plane Identifier sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. NASA asks for nothing beyond the download.

Plane Identifier holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NASA has 64K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two.

NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, Plane Identifier every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NASA | Plane Identifier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plane-identifier-planesnap/id6751366790/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **64K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.5** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [JACOB COX](https://appshunter.io/developer/1785798264) |

## What reviewers say

### NASA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516)

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.

**Highlights:** NASA+ video streaming, 21,000+ NASA images, Latest NASA news, Mission updates, Podcasts, ISS tracking and Sky View, Augmented reality experiences

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast loading
- 👍 Informative and educational
- 🌟 Amazing images and videos
- 💻 Great for learning about space
- 🔭 Comprehensive space information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 📺 Missing live streaming features
- 🔄 Outdated user interface
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Plane Identifier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plane-identifier-planesnap/id6751366790)

Instantly identify aircraft from photos using AI. Get manufacturer, model, and fascinating facts about any plane you see. Organize your discoveries and share them with others.

**Highlights:** Instant AI aircraft recognition, Detailed aircraft information, Personal aircraft collection, Shareable discovery cards, Secure image processing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PlaneSnap Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| PlaneSnap Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NASA free?

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

### Is Plane Identifier free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NASA or Plane Identifier?

Plane Identifier is rated higher. NASA averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64K ratings, while Plane Identifier averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

### Do NASA or Plane Identifier have ads?

Neither NASA nor Plane Identifier shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NASA or Plane Identifier?

NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, and Plane Identifier every 10 months. Most recently, NASA was updated on November 10, 2026 and Plane Identifier on November 5, 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.*