Sputnik! vs ISS Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sputnik!
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.
- 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
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Sputnik! is an easy to use tool for predicting when the International Space Station will pass by your location or when a bright satellite will be visible in the skies above. Sputnik! features: - Predictions of satellite and ISS sightings accurate to the second. - Detection of Starlink satellite trains. - Second by second countdown to the satellite sighting. - Set reminders of upcoming satellite sightings. - Displays compass direction and elevation for your device to easily find the part of the sky where the sighting will occur (requires capable device). - Rotate your device to landscape orientation to show exactly where the satellite will pass in the night sky. - Share sightings via Twitter, Facebook, Mail, Messages and others. - Automatic download of up to date satellite orbital data. - Offline calculations, no need to be connected to the internet once orbital data has been downloaded. - Input your location automatically by GPS, select from a map or enter coordinates manually. - Save your favorite places for easy access. - Audio cues for the last seconds before the satellite passes by. Sputnik! on Apple Watch: - Easily find the next and last sighting at your current location. * Sputnik! is ad-supported *
ISS Tracker
Monitor the International Space Station's live position and vital telemetry data in real-time. Track its orbit, altitude, velocity, and internal environmental systems. Ideal for space enthusiasts and students interested in space exploration.
- Real-time ISS position tracking
- Interactive world map
- Altitude and velocity data
- Comprehensive telemetry monitoring
- Environmental and power system data
- Dark mode support
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ISS Tracker: Real-Time Space Station Monitor Experience the International Space Station like never before with our comprehensive real-time tracking and telemetry monitoring app. Perfect for space enthusiasts, students, and anyone fascinated by space exploration. KEY FEATURES: LIVE TRACKING & ORBIT • Real-time ISS position tracking on an interactive world map • Current altitude, velocity, and orbital period • Precise latitude and longitude coordinates • Customizable map views (Standard & Satellite) COMPREHENSIVE TELEMETRY • Position & Attitude: Real-time altitude, velocity, yaw, pitch, and roll • Environmental Systems: O₂ levels, CO₂ levels, cabin pressure, and temperature • Power Systems: CMG momentum and status • Thermal Control: Loop A/B temperature and flow rates • Water Management: Clean water, waste water, and urine tank levels • Cooling Systems: Avionics and air cooling temperatures • Oxygen Supply: O₂ and N₂ tank pressure readings • Node Systems: Avionics temperature monitoring • EVA Systems: EMU voltage and current readings • Communications: Ku-Band status and video channels SMART FEATURES • Dark mode support for comfortable viewing • Intuitive interface designed for space enthusiasts • Real-time data updates • Professional-grade accuracy EDUCATIONAL VALUE: Perfect for: • STEM students learning about space technology • Space enthusiasts tracking ISS operations • Teachers demonstrating orbital mechanics • Anyone interested in space station operations Stay connected with humanity's outpost in space. Download ISS Tracker now and monitor the International Space Station's vital signs in real-time. Note: This app uses official telemetry data to provide accurate information about the International Space Station's systems and position.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ISS Tracker at none against Sputnik!'s 1. ISS Tracker also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Sputnik!'s advantage is ratings volume (731 vs 5). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Sputnik! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ISS Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.
ISS Tracker holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sputnik! has 731 ratings behind it against 5, 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 100% of ISS Tracker's.
Sputnik! ships an update every 5 months, ISS Tracker weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sputnik! | ISS Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (731 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 731 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Applicate Ltd | Lucent Enterprises Ltd. |
Customer experience
Sputnik!
ISS Tracker
Bugs and requests
Sputnik!
Reported bugs
3 issues- App reporting 'No Sightings' for all categories
- Null check errors when selecting satellite sightings
- Issues with location settings and data updates
Requested features
4 requests- Add support for more satellite types
- Improve sky chart visualization and orientation
- Provide filtering options (e.g. by elevation, magnitude)
- Implement automatic data updates
ISS Tracker
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sputnik!
- Go ad-free$0.99
ISS Tracker
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sputnik! free?
Is ISS Tracker free?
Which has better reviews, Sputnik! or ISS Tracker?
Do Sputnik! or ISS Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sputnik! or ISS Tracker?
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