# Columbus Eye vs ProtAct17

The clearest difference is update cadence: Columbus Eye at every 2 months against ProtAct17's every 9 months. ProtAct17's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Columbus Eye ships an update every 2 months, ProtAct17 every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Columbus Eye | ProtAct17 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 213 MB | 187 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum](https://appshunter.io/developer/476630475) | [KIDS interactive GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/731500021) |

## What reviewers say

### Columbus Eye

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/columbus-eye/id6444104616)

Explore Earth's features like volcanoes and cities in 3D using augmented reality. This educational app uses real satellite data and printable worksheets to bring scientific content to life for learning at home or in the classroom.

**Highlights:** Marker-based Augmented Reality, High-quality satellite imagery, Interactive learning modules, Based on real satellite data, Works with printable worksheets

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### ProtAct17

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protact17/id6446908812)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Columbus Eye free?

Columbus Eye is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ProtAct17 free?

ProtAct17 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Columbus Eye or ProtAct17 have ads?

Neither Columbus Eye nor ProtAct17 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Columbus Eye or ProtAct17?

Columbus Eye ships an update every 2 months, and ProtAct17 every 9 months. Most recently, Columbus Eye was updated on October 6, 2026 and ProtAct17 on October 17, 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.*