Comparison

SDO Viewer vs Mars

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SDO Viewer

Access and view the latest images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Receive push notifications when new images become available, keeping you updated on solar activity.

Highlights
  • Download SDO images
  • Display latest solar images
  • Push notifications for new images
  • Courtesy of NASA/SDO science teams
Features
Read full description

SDO Viewer is a simple application for downloading and displaying the latest images taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). It includes push notifications so you can be notified by a badge on the application when new images are available. SDO Viewer, by the creator of SoHO Viewer. Courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.

About

Mars

Features
Read full description

Humanity’s fascination with the Red Planet has never been stronger. With the completely reimagined "Mars: Curiosity" app, we bring the frontiers of space exploration directly to your fingertips through a premium, state-of-the-art experience. Witness Mars as if you were standing on its dusty plains. Our latest update introduces a stunning modern interface featuring glassmorphism elements, dynamic background animations, and an overall design language inspired by the future of space travel. WHAT’S NEW & REIMAGINED: SMART SEARCH & DISCOVERY: Quickly find exactly what you’re looking for with our new global search feature in both the Browse and Video sections. IMMERSIVE VIDEO EXPERIENCE: Watch Curiosity’s journey in high-definition with our all-new video player. Now supporting landscape mode for a true cinema feel, smart autoplay with preview protection, and an elegant Apple TV-inspired layout. MODERN DESIGN SYSTEM: Experience a "alive" interface with subtle stars animations, glass-like cards, and haptic feedback that makes exploring feel tactile and premium. KEY FEATURES: EXPLORE (BROWSE): Navigate through hundreds of official NASA photos with ease. Toggle between grid and list views, shuffle your findings, and search specifically for the missions that interest you most. CINEMATIC SLIDESHOW: Lose yourself in the Martian landscape. Browse full-screen, high-resolution imagery that makes you feel truly present on the planet. HD VIDEO ARCHIVE: Dive deep into Gale Crater, learn about Curiosity’s historic achievements, and explore over 50 years of Martian research through curated video content. INTERACTIVE GALLERY: Examine every detail with intuitive pinch-to-zoom gestures and high-contrast viewing modes. 3D MODELS: Step into the third dimension with interactive models that bring Martian topography and hardware to life. Whether you are a casual observer or a dedicated space enthusiast, Mars: Curiosity provides a compact, powerful, and visually stunning window into the future of our species on another world.

Screenshots

SDO Viewer4 screens
Mars4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SDO Viewer at none against Mars's shown. SDO Viewer also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 32 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SDO Viewer ships an update every 2 months, Mars every 32 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SDO Viewer versus Mars: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSDO ViewerMars
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 32 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB108 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperJérôme DiazAlparslan Topbas

In-app purchases

None

SDO Viewer

No in-app purchases

None

Mars

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SDO Viewer free?
SDO Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mars free?
Mars is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SDO Viewer or Mars have ads?
Mars shows ads; SDO Viewer does not.
Which is updated more often, SDO Viewer or Mars?
SDO Viewer ships an update every 2 months, and Mars every 32 months. Most recently, SDO Viewer was updated on October 7, 2026 and Mars on September 30, 2026.

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