Iridium GO! vs EXPLORER Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Iridium GO!
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.
- Satellite calling
- SMS messaging
- Twitter integration
- Emergency SOS activation
- Global network coverage
- Wi-Fi connectivity
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Iridium GO! enables satellite connectivity for your iPhone/iPad where terrestrial networks are non-existent, unreliable, or costly. With Iridium GO! and the power of the Iridium global satellite network, your iPhone/iPad will now work anywhere on the planet. The Iridium GO! app enables users to connect over Wi-Fi and make phone calls, send SMS, post Twitter updates, or activate SOS in the event of an emergency (requires registration). Visit www.iridiumgo.com for Iridium GO! product details and information on where to buy. The Iridium GO! app supports English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Japanese languages. Note: The Iridium GO! device is required to use this app.
EXPLORER Connect
Manage and operate EXPLORER BGAN terminals with ease. This application allows you to monitor terminal status, configure settings, and even use your smartphone as a satellite phone for making and receiving calls.
- Satellite phone capability
- Terminal status dashboard
- Configuration settings
- Terminal pointing assistance
- SIP phone settings
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EXPLORER CONNECT simplifies management and usage of EXPLORER 510, 710, and 323 terminals. Via the Connect app, it is possible to monitor and configure the terminals. A satellite phone capability is part of the app that enables making and receiving calls using a smart phone connected to an EXPLORER satellite terminal. The EXPLORER Connect main menu includes: - Satellite phone - Use your smart phone as a satellite phone to make and receive calls with EXPLORER BGAN terminals*. - Dashboard - Overview of terminal status. - Settings - extended menu with access to phone settings (SIP), terminal pointing assistance, terminal webpage, and About page. *Note: For use of Satellite Phone, the phone/tablet must support IP Telephony (SIP).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: EXPLORER Connect at 5.0 against Iridium GO!'s 1.9. Iridium GO!'s advantage is ratings volume (54 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
EXPLORER Connect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Iridium GO! has 54 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 7% of Iridium GO!'s written reviews are positive against 0% of EXPLORER Connect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Iridium GO! ships an update every 5 months, EXPLORER Connect every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and July 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Iridium GO! | EXPLORER Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.9 (54 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 6.8% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 54 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Iridium Satellite LLC | Thrane & Thrane AS |
Customer experience
Iridium GO!
EXPLORER Connect
In-app purchases
Iridium GO!
No in-app purchases
EXPLORER Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Iridium GO! free?
Is EXPLORER Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Iridium GO! or EXPLORER Connect?
Do Iridium GO! or EXPLORER Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Iridium GO! or EXPLORER Connect?
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