SpaceStationAR vs ISS Detector
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SpaceStationAR
Visualize satellites, stars, and galaxies in augmented reality. Track the International Space Station, Starlink trains, and more overlaid on your surroundings. Access celestial charts, event calendars, and receive notifications for upcoming passes.
- AR satellite pass simulation
- Real-time satellite tracking
- Display of stars, galaxies, and spacecraft
- Satellite orbits on maps and charts
- Calendar of upcoming passes and launches
- Satellite pass notifications
- Night Observation Mode
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SpaceStationAR is an augmented reality (AR) application that simulates the visibility of satellites in the night sky. With SpaceStationAR, you can easily spot the brilliant International Space Station, spectacular Starlink Trains, and various satellites at the forefront of space exploration with your own eyes! As your iPhone or iPad camera captures the scenery around you, SpaceStationAR overlays passes of the International Space Station, the Starlink Train (a group of Starlink satellites), and the Chinese Space Station onto the actual scenery. You can also use the app to find bright stars, galaxies, spacecrafts like Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, and even see the direction of major cities beyond the ground. SpaceStationAR also indicates the positions of geostationary satellites, making it a valuable tool for antenna installation. It can even forecast potential atmospheric re-entries of satellites. You can easily access satellite orbits on maps and celestial charts in addition to the AR views. The "Calendar" tab displays events like upcoming satellite passes and rocket launches within the next two weeks. You can choose a pass from the list and simulate it in AR. SpaceStationAR also comes with an Apple Watch app and a "Today" widget. If you have a compatible device, you can conveniently check a simplified satellite forecast list without needing to open the main app. List of Features * AR simulation of satellite passes overlaid on real landscapes * Real-time tracking of passing satellites (Exclusive to the paid version) * Display of stars, galaxies, black holes, planetary probes, satellites, and world cities in AR (Visibility can be customized by type) * Visualization of satellite passes on maps and celestial charts (Celestial chart feature is available in the paid version) * Presentation of satellite orbits and current locations on a global map * Calendar listing satellite passes within the next two weeks * Support for newly launched satellites * Turn on "Night Observation Mode" to switch AR and the celestial chart to a red-and-black color scheme, helping your eyes stay adapted to the dark (Night Observation Mode is available in the paid version) * Offline app usage * Forecasts potential atmospheric re-entries of satellites (currently in beta) * Satellite pass notifications: Set notification times from 15 minutes to 6 hours before the event for accurate alerts. (Please allow background location updates for precise notifications. Disabling this feature may lead to inaccurate notifications when traveling long distances with the app closed.) The LITE version of the app restricts AR mode display to 30 minutes before satellite passes and does not provide real-time AR functionality. Additionally, advertisements will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. http://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/torisat/id361194118?mt=8
ISS Detector
Easily track the International Space Station and other satellites. Receive timely alarms before passes and get weather condition checks for optimal viewing. Enhance functionality with optional in-app purchases to discover more celestial objects.
- ISS tracking and alerts
- Weather condition checks
- Alarm notifications
- Track Starlink trains
- Track Hubble telescope
- Track amateur radio satellites
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Have you seen the International Space Station? It is visible with the naked eye! This is the easiest way to spot the station. ISS Detector will tell you when and where to look for the ISS. You get an alarm a few minutes before a pass. You will never miss it. ISS Detector will also check if the weather conditions are right. A clear sky is perfect for spotting. Premium will enhance the functionality of ISS Detector. With the subscription you can add many famous satellites and amateur radio satellites. See the Starlink satellite trains, Hubble space telescope, rocket bodies, Vanguard 1 and many bright satellites. Available categories in Premium: Radio Amateur Satellites: Track dozens of ham and weather satellites. Starlink: Track Starlink satellite trains. Famous Objects: Hubble Space Telescope, rocket bodies, bright satellites and more. Comets: Find comets in the night sky. You might need binoculars or a telescope to see them Planets: Find all the planets Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ISS Detector at Free against SpaceStationAR's $2.99. ISS Detector also leads on ratings volume (569 vs 117). SpaceStationAR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On monetization model and iOS requirement 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
ISS Detector is free to download; SpaceStationAR costs $2.99 up front. ISS Detector sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. SpaceStationAR asks for nothing beyond the download.
SpaceStationAR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 117 and 569 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of SpaceStationAR's written reviews are positive against 56% of ISS Detector's.
SpaceStationAR ships an update weekly, ISS Detector monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SpaceStationAR | ISS Detector |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (117 ratings) — better | 4.6 (569 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews — better | 56.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 117 | 569 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Toriningen Co.,Ltd. | Derk Vrijdag |
Customer experience
SpaceStationAR
ISS Detector
In-app purchases
SpaceStationAR
No in-app purchases
ISS Detector
- Premium Access2 variants$0.991 Month
- Donation$1.991 Month
- Premium Access$1.991 Month
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- Premium Access$2.991 Year
- Premium Access7 Days trial$5.991 Year
- Donation2 variants$5.991 Year
- Premium Access7 Days trial$11.991 Year
- Starlink and Famous objects$3.99
- Amateur Radio Satellites$3.99
- Comets and Planets$3.99
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- Combo package$5.99
Questions
Is SpaceStationAR free?
Is ISS Detector free?
Which has better reviews, SpaceStationAR or ISS Detector?
Do SpaceStationAR or ISS Detector have ads?
Which is updated more often, SpaceStationAR or ISS Detector?
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