Sputnik! vs Optix Outbound
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 *
Optix Outbound
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Optix Outbound ship tracker
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Optix Outbound at none against Sputnik!'s 1. Optix Outbound also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 months). Sputnik!'s advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, 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. Optix Outbound asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sputnik! ships an update every 5 months, Optix Outbound every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sputnik! | Optix Outbound |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (731 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 731 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Applicate Ltd | Timothy Emerick |
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
Optix Outbound
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sputnik!
- Go ad-free$0.99
Optix Outbound
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sputnik! free?
Is Optix Outbound free?
Do Sputnik! or Optix Outbound have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sputnik! or Optix Outbound?
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