# Iridium GO! vs EXPLORER Connect

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Iridium GO! | EXPLORER Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iridium-go/id808207315/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorer-connect/id983965032/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **54** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **6.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 67 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Iridium Satellite LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/634954979) | [Thrane & Thrane AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/983965031) |

## 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


### EXPLORER Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explorer-connect/id983965032)

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.

**Highlights:** Satellite phone capability, Terminal status dashboard, Configuration settings, Terminal pointing assistance, SIP phone settings

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Iridium GO! free?

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

### Is EXPLORER Connect free?

EXPLORER Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Iridium GO! or EXPLORER Connect?

EXPLORER Connect is rated higher. Iridium GO! averages 1.9 out of 5 from 54 ratings, while EXPLORER Connect averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Iridium GO! or EXPLORER Connect have ads?

Neither Iridium GO! nor EXPLORER Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Iridium GO! or EXPLORER Connect?

Iridium GO! ships an update every 5 months, and EXPLORER Connect every 10 months. Most recently, Iridium GO! was updated on September 9, 2026 and EXPLORER Connect on July 31, 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.*