# Sputnik! vs Smart SF

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart SF at none against Sputnik!'s 1. Smart SF also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). Sputnik!'s advantage is ratings volume (731 vs 6) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sputnik! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Smart SF asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sputnik! holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sputnik! has 731 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Sputnik! ships an update every 5 months, Smart SF every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sputnik! | Smart SF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (731 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sputnik/id393001070/reviews)** | [4.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-sf/id1391034591/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **731** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 92.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 35 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Applicate Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/299117183) | [强 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1391034590) |

## What reviewers say

### Sputnik!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sputnik/id393001070)

Track the International Space Station and bright satellites with precise timing and location data. Get second-by-second countdowns, set reminders, and view satellite paths in the night sky. Supports offline calculations and sharing sightings.

**Highlights:** Accurate satellite and ISS sighting predictions, Starlink satellite train detection, Second-by-second countdowns, Sighting reminders, Compass direction and elevation display, Night sky path visualization, Offline calculations

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Go ad-free | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate satellite tracking
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🔭 Supports tracking of various satellites (ISS, Hubble, Starlink)
- ⏰ Provides countdown and reminders for sightings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App not working/crashing for some users
- 🔍 Unclear information about satellite visibility (e.g. what 'enters Earth's shadow' means)
- 🔧 Difficulty updating satellite data
- 🙈 Dark mode text visibility issues

**Reported bugs**

- App reporting 'No Sightings' for all categories
- Null check errors when selecting satellite sightings
- Issues with location settings and data updates

**Requested features**

- Add support for more satellite types
- Improve sky chart visualization and orientation
- Provide filtering options (e.g. by elevation, magnitude)
- Implement automatic data updates


### Smart SF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-sf/id1391034591)

This utility app uses your device's GPS and sensors to automatically calculate and graphically display the precise elevation, azimuth, and polarization angles needed for satellite dish alignment. It offers real-time online updates for satellite parameters and firmware.

**Highlights:** Automatic angle calculation (elevation, azimuth, polarization), Real-time satellite parameter updates, Graphical display for easy alignment, Firmware updates for the device, Uses GPS and directional sensors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sputnik! free?

Sputnik! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Smart SF free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sputnik! or Smart SF?

Sputnik! is rated higher. Sputnik! averages 4.7 out of 5 from 731 ratings, while Smart SF averages 4.5 from 6 ratings.

### Do Sputnik! or Smart SF have ads?

Neither Sputnik! nor Smart SF shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sputnik! or Smart SF?

Sputnik! ships an update every 5 months, and Smart SF every 2 months. Most recently, Sputnik! was updated on October 13, 2026 and Smart SF on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*