# APOD Explorer vs Planet Pointer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: APOD Explorer at none against Planet Pointer's 1. Planet Pointer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Planet Pointer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. APOD Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

APOD Explorer ships an update every 4 weeks, Planet Pointer every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | APOD Explorer | Planet Pointer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Size | 36 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diego Carrera Alonso](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787161862) | [Haviv Tarazi](https://appshunter.io/developer/6815724966) |

## 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


### Planet Pointer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planet-pointer/id6815724964)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Planet Pointer Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is APOD Explorer free?

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

### Is Planet Pointer free?

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

### Do APOD Explorer or Planet Pointer have ads?

Neither APOD Explorer nor Planet Pointer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, APOD Explorer or Planet Pointer?

APOD Explorer ships an update every 4 weeks, and Planet Pointer every 2 days. Most recently, APOD Explorer was updated on October 10, 2026 and Planet Pointer on October 12, 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.*