# Sputnik! vs Satellite Tracker

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sputnik! at 92% against Satellite Tracker's 44%. Sputnik! also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.4) and ratings volume (731 vs 13). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sputnik! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Satellite Tracker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Sputnik! holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sputnik! has 731 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Sputnik!'s written reviews are positive against 44% of Satellite Tracker's.

Sputnik! ships an update every 5 months, Satellite Tracker every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sputnik! | Satellite Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (731 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sputnik/id393001070/reviews)** | [3.4 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-tracker/id1438679383/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **731** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **92.2% of reviews** | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 35 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Applicate Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/299117183) | [Craig Vosburgh](https://appshunter.io/developer/301984770) |

## 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


### Satellite Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-tracker/id1438679383)

Track satellites, the Sun, and the Moon with rise/set times and visibility calculations. Visualize Earth with 3D globe or 2D map views and customize tracking options. Offers free basic functionality with optional subscriptions for expanded satellite access.

**Highlights:** Satellite, Sun, and Moon tracking, Rise/set times and visibility calculations, 3D globe and 2D map Earth views, Customizable tracking options, Free basic functionality, Optional satellite subscription plans

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amateur Satellites Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| All Satellites Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Amateur Satellites Annual | $8.99 | per year |
| All Satellites Annual | $11.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sputnik! free?

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

### Is Satellite Tracker free?

Satellite Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sputnik! or Satellite Tracker?

Sputnik! is rated higher. Sputnik! averages 4.7 out of 5 from 731 ratings, while Satellite Tracker averages 3.4 from 13 ratings.

### Do Sputnik! or Satellite Tracker have ads?

Neither Sputnik! nor Satellite Tracker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sputnik! or Satellite Tracker?

Sputnik! ships an update every 5 months, and Satellite Tracker every 3 months. Most recently, Sputnik! was updated on September 23, 2026 and Satellite Tracker on August 21, 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.*