# Space Images vs SOS Explorer

Space Images and SOS Explorer both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of SOS Explorer's written reviews are positive against 63% of Space Images's. SOS Explorer also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Space Images's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 11 months). On price, rating, ratings volume 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 — 4.6 for Space Images against 4.7 for SOS Explorer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 20 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Space Images's written reviews are positive against 86% of SOS Explorer's.

Space Images ships an update every 4 months, SOS Explorer every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on July 16, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Space Images | SOS Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-images/id347075764/reviews) | **[4.7 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-explorer/id1358724422/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | 63.0% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 23 MB | 249 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jet Propulsion Laboratory](https://appshunter.io/developer/347075767) | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://appshunter.io/developer/972210292) |

## What reviewers say

### Space Images

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-images/id347075764)

Explore breathtaking images from NASA missions, featuring planets, galaxies, and space technology. This app offers widgets for your home screen and StandBy mode, allowing you to view a slideshow while your device charges. You can also bookmark, search, and share your favorite celestial discoveries.

**Highlights:** Latest NASA space images, Widgets for home screen, StandBy mode slideshow, Image notifications, Search and browse categories, Bookmark and share images

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SOS Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sos-explorer/id1358724422)

Explore interactive animated datasets of Earth and space phenomena, from planetary rings to climate change models. This app brings complex environmental processes to life in an intuitive and captivating way, making learning accessible anywhere.

**Highlights:** Streaming high-resolution datasets, Educational videos, User-guided tours, Analysis tools, 100+ datasets, Global and flat map views

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Space Images free?

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

### Is SOS Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Space Images or SOS Explorer?

SOS Explorer is rated higher. Space Images averages 4.6 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while SOS Explorer averages 4.7 from 20 ratings.

### Do Space Images or SOS Explorer have ads?

Neither Space Images nor SOS Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Space Images or SOS Explorer?

Space Images ships an update every 4 months, and SOS Explorer every 11 months. Most recently, Space Images was updated on July 16, 2026 and SOS Explorer on September 7, 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.*