# NASA HIAD vs Spacecraft AR

The clearest difference is rating: NASA HIAD at 4.4 against Spacecraft AR's 3.1. NASA HIAD also leads on iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 15.0). Spacecraft AR's advantage is review sentiment (53% vs 38%) and ratings volume (25 vs 8). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

NASA HIAD holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 25 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of NASA HIAD's written reviews are positive against 53% of Spacecraft AR's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NASA HIAD ships an update every 4 months, Spacecraft AR every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NASA HIAD | Spacecraft AR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa-hiad/id534511367/reviews)** | [3.1 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spacecraft-ar/id1452909829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **25** |
| Positive reviews | 38.1% of reviews | **53.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 25 MB | 160 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [Jet Propulsion Laboratory](https://appshunter.io/developer/347075767) |

## 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


### Spacecraft AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spacecraft-ar/id1452909829)

Explore the solar system with interactive 3D models of NASA spacecraft. View them in augmented reality, scaled to your environment, and learn about their missions. Perfect for aspiring astronauts, educators, and space lovers.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D spacecraft models, Augmented reality viewing, True-to-life and adjustable scaling, Detailed mission information, In-app camera functionality, Explore Earth, Mars, and beyond

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NASA HIAD free?

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

### Is Spacecraft AR free?

Spacecraft AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NASA HIAD or Spacecraft AR?

NASA HIAD is rated higher. NASA HIAD averages 4.4 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Spacecraft AR averages 3.1 from 25 ratings.

### Do NASA HIAD or Spacecraft AR have ads?

Neither NASA HIAD nor Spacecraft AR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NASA HIAD or Spacecraft AR?

NASA HIAD ships an update every 4 months, and Spacecraft AR every 7 months. Most recently, NASA HIAD was updated on October 23, 2026 and Spacecraft AR on October 20, 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.*