# SpaceStationAR vs ISS Detector

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpaceStationAR | ISS Detector |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spacestationar/id361194118/reviews)** | [4.6 (569 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iss-detector/id1198597805/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 117 | **569** |
| Positive reviews | **65.5% of reviews** | 56.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#172** | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Toriningen Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/361194121) | [Derk Vrijdag](https://appshunter.io/developer/1198597804) |

## What reviewers say

### SpaceStationAR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spacestationar/id361194118)

**Currently charting:** #172 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### ISS Detector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iss-detector/id1198597805)

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.

**Highlights:** ISS tracking and alerts, Weather condition checks, Alarm notifications, Track Starlink trains, Track Hubble telescope, Track amateur radio satellites

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access | $0.99 | per month |
| Donation | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Access | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Access | $2.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $5.99 | per year |
| Donation | $5.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $11.99 | per year |
| Starlink and Famous objects | $3.99 | one-time |
| Amateur Radio Satellites | $3.99 | one-time |
| Comets and Planets | $3.99 | one-time |
| Combo package | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpaceStationAR free?

SpaceStationAR costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ISS Detector free?

ISS Detector is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SpaceStationAR or ISS Detector?

SpaceStationAR is rated higher. SpaceStationAR averages 4.8 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while ISS Detector averages 4.6 from 569 ratings.

### Do SpaceStationAR or ISS Detector have ads?

ISS Detector shows ads; SpaceStationAR does not.

### Which is updated more often, SpaceStationAR or ISS Detector?

SpaceStationAR ships an update weekly, and ISS Detector monthly. Most recently, SpaceStationAR was updated on September 22, 2026 and ISS Detector on September 24, 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.*