# EPIC vs Deep Sky Scanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Deep Sky Scanner at none against EPIC's 1. Deep Sky Scanner also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EPIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Deep Sky Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

EPIC ships an update monthly, Deep Sky Scanner every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EPIC | Deep Sky Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epic-nasa-explorer/id6761562062/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 10 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [William Keene](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836616486) | [Chris Eddy](https://appshunter.io/developer/6809615073) |

## What reviewers say

### EPIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epic-nasa-explorer/id6761562062)

Discover stunning daily images from NASA, including the Astronomy Picture of the Day, Mars rover photos, and views from Hubble and James Webb. Explore curated collections, search the NASA Image Library, and save your favorite space discoveries. Watch live NASA streams and engage with STEM activities for all ages.

**Highlights:** Daily Astronomy Picture of the Day, Mars rover and Earth views, Hubble and James Webb images, Themed NASA mission collections, Searchable NASA Image Library, Save favorite images, NASA live stream

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |


### Deep Sky Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deep-sky-scanner/id6809615071)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EPIC free?

EPIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Deep Sky Scanner free?

Deep Sky Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do EPIC or Deep Sky Scanner have ads?

Neither EPIC nor Deep Sky Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EPIC or Deep Sky Scanner?

EPIC ships an update monthly, and Deep Sky Scanner every 3 days. Most recently, EPIC was updated on October 9, 2026 and Deep Sky Scanner on October 7, 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.*