# Iridium GO! vs AIS Explorer

The clearest difference is rating: AIS Explorer at 5.0 against Iridium GO!'s 1.9. AIS Explorer also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). Iridium GO!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AIS Explorer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.00 per month. Iridium GO! asks for nothing beyond the download.

AIS Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Iridium GO! has 58 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Iridium GO! ships an update every 5 months, AIS Explorer monthly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Iridium GO! | AIS Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (58 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iridium-go/id808207315/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ais-explorer/id1670774413/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **58** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 6.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Iridium](https://appshunter.io/developer/634954979) | [PredictWind Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/477048590) |

## What reviewers say

### Iridium GO!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iridium-go/id808207315)

Connect your iPhone or iPad to a global satellite network for calls, texts, and social media updates anywhere on Earth. This app provides essential communication capabilities even in areas without terrestrial network coverage, including emergency SOS functionality.

**Highlights:** Satellite calling, SMS messaging, Twitter integration, Emergency SOS activation, Global network coverage, Wi-Fi connectivity

**In-app purchases:** none


### AIS Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ais-explorer/id1670774413)

Track ships and yachts globally in real-time with advanced satellite and terrestrial AIS receivers. Offers vessel search, favorites, port of call details, and integrated weather forecasts with routing for ETAs. Provides comprehensive satellite AIS data.

**Highlights:** Real-time Satellite AIS, Real-time Terrestrial AIS, Search Vessels, Save To Favourites, Last Port of Call, Advanced Weather Forecasts, Weather Routing - ETA

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AIS Pro monthly | $49.00 | per month |
| AIS Pro 3 monthly | $99.00 | per 3 months |
| AIS Pro Annual | $249.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Iridium GO! free?

Iridium GO! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AIS Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Iridium GO! or AIS Explorer?

AIS Explorer is rated higher. Iridium GO! averages 1.9 out of 5 from 58 ratings, while AIS Explorer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Iridium GO! or AIS Explorer have ads?

AIS Explorer shows ads; Iridium GO! does not.

### Which is updated more often, Iridium GO! or AIS Explorer?

Iridium GO! ships an update every 5 months, and AIS Explorer monthly. Most recently, Iridium GO! was updated on October 24, 2026 and AIS Explorer on October 24, 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.*