# NASA HIAD vs Mars Info Lite

NASA HIAD and Mars Info Lite both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 96% of Mars Info Lite's written reviews are positive against 38% of NASA HIAD's. Mars Info Lite also leads on ratings volume (200 vs 8). NASA HIAD's advantage is iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for NASA HIAD against 4.4 for Mars Info Lite. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mars Info Lite has 200 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 38% of NASA HIAD's written reviews are positive against 96% of Mars Info Lite's.

NASA HIAD ships an update every 4 months, Mars Info Lite every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NASA HIAD | Mars Info Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa-hiad/id534511367/reviews) | [4.4 (200 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-info-lite/id1093071808/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **200** |
| Positive reviews | 38.1% of reviews | **96.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 25 MB | 210 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [Viktor Goltvyanytsya](https://appshunter.io/developer/556365139) |

## What reviewers say

### NASA HIAD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa-hiad/id534511367)

Engage in a challenging space mission simulation where you must guide an inflatable spacecraft through atmospheric re-entry. Make critical decisions about shape, materials, and trajectory to successfully land cargo on Earth.

**Highlights:** Spacecraft re-entry simulation, Inflatable aerodynamic decelerator mechanics, Trajectory and speed control, Vehicle customization, Four levels of engineering challenges, Star-based scoring system

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mars Info Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-info-lite/id1093071808)

Explore the surface of the Red Planet with an interactive 3D globe. Discover significant locations like volcanoes, craters, and mountains, and view detailed information about each. This version offers a curated selection of points of interest.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D Mars globe, Rotate, tilt, and zoom controls, Pinpoint key locations, View location details (name, type, size, coordinates), List of selectable locations

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to navigate and self-explanatory
- ✨ Fantastic graphics and useful information
- 🚀 Responsive navigation around Mars
- 💡 Great for learning about Mars
- 🌟 Awesome info graphics and data

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Pinpoints shifted 90 degrees in longitude
- 🔭 Can't zoom in close enough
- 🖼️ Picture can be unsteady when scrolling text

**Reported bugs**

- Pinpoints shifted 90 degrees in longitude
- Crashes immediately on iPhone 4s

**Requested features**

- Implement geomorphology data
- Add ability to zoom out and see Mars alignment with other planets
- Add VR support
- Add apps for other planets


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NASA HIAD free?

NASA HIAD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mars Info Lite free?

Mars Info Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NASA HIAD or Mars Info Lite?

NASA HIAD and Mars Info Lite are both rated 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 200 ratings respectively.

### Do NASA HIAD or Mars Info Lite have ads?

Neither NASA HIAD nor Mars Info Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NASA HIAD or Mars Info Lite?

NASA HIAD ships an update every 4 months, and Mars Info Lite every 3 months. Most recently, NASA HIAD was updated on November 1, 2026 and Mars Info Lite on November 2, 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.*