# APOD Explorer vs Deep Sky Scanner

The clearest difference is update cadence: Deep Sky Scanner at every 3 days against APOD Explorer's every 4 weeks. Deep Sky Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). 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.

APOD Explorer ships an update every 4 weeks, Deep Sky Scanner every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | APOD Explorer | Deep Sky Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Size | 36 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diego Carrera Alonso](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787161862) | [Chris Eddy](https://appshunter.io/developer/6809615073) |

## What reviewers say

### APOD Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apod-explorer/id6787161860)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 APOD Explorer free?

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

### Is Deep Sky Scanner free?

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

### Do APOD Explorer or Deep Sky Scanner have ads?

Neither APOD Explorer nor Deep Sky Scanner shows ads.

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

APOD Explorer ships an update every 4 weeks, and Deep Sky Scanner every 3 days. Most recently, APOD Explorer was updated on October 10, 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.*