Comparison

SpaceStationAR vs Space Station Tracker

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

Space Station Tracker

Follow the International Space Station's live location on a globe and get alerts for visible flyovers at your exact location. Features a compass view to help you spot it in the sky.

Highlights
  • Real-time ISS location tracking
  • Globe view with orbital trajectory
  • Upcoming visible flyover alerts
  • GPS-based viewing calculations
  • Compass view for sky spotting
  • Azimuth and elevation details
Features
Read full description

Track the International Space Station in real time and see upcoming visible flyovers for your location. ISS Tracker helps you understand where the ISS is now, when it will pass overhead, and where to look in the sky. It is designed to be simple, useful, and privacy-first. LIVE GLOBE VIEW See the current location of the ISS and its orbital path on an interactive globe. The app displays approximately one full orbit and updates the station’s position with live telemetry, including latitude, longitude, altitude, and speed in miles or kilometers. UPCOMING VISIBLE FLYOVERS Find upcoming ISS flyovers based on your location. Viewing opportunities are calculated using your location and estimated visibility, helping you identify passes that may be visible to the naked eye. FLYOVER COMPASS VIEW Use the compass view to know where to look. Each flyover includes azimuth, compass direction, and elevation details for the start, maximum elevation, and end of the pass. PRIVACY-FIRST LOCATION USE Your location is used to show your position relative to the ISS and calculate upcoming flyovers. Location is requested only while using the app, and is never sent to third parties. The app does not use analytics, advertising, or tracking. ISS Tracker is built for skywatchers, space enthusiasts, educators, students, and anyone who wants a clear way to follow the International Space Station. Questions or feedback? Contact support@pacificaconsulting.io

Screenshots

SpaceStationAR4 screens
Space Station Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SpaceStationAR at 65% against Space Station Tracker's 0%. SpaceStationAR also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 38 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Space Station Tracker's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99). On ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Space Station Tracker is free to download; SpaceStationAR costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SpaceStationAR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SpaceStationAR has 117 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of SpaceStationAR's written reviews are positive against 0% of Space Station Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SpaceStationAR ships an update weekly, Space Station Tracker every 38 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
SpaceStationAR versus Space Station Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpaceStationARSpace Station Tracker
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (117 ratings) — better4.5 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews65.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings117 — better4
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 38 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperToriningen Co.,Ltd.Jaimeson Bilodeau

Customer experience

SpaceStationAR

All ratings117 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive65.5%
Neutral13.1%
Negative21.4%

Space Station Tracker

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

SpaceStationAR

No in-app purchases

None

Space Station Tracker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SpaceStationAR free?
SpaceStationAR costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Space Station Tracker free?
Space Station Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SpaceStationAR or Space Station Tracker?
SpaceStationAR is rated higher. SpaceStationAR averages 4.8 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while Space Station Tracker averages 4.5 from 4 ratings.
Do SpaceStationAR or Space Station Tracker have ads?
Neither SpaceStationAR nor Space Station Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SpaceStationAR or Space Station Tracker?
SpaceStationAR ships an update weekly, and Space Station Tracker every 38 months. Most recently, SpaceStationAR was updated on September 22, 2026 and Space Station Tracker on September 17, 2026.

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