# Starshout vs Space Channel

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Starshout at none against Space Channel's 6. Starshout also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 33 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Space Channel sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Starshout asks for nothing beyond the download.

Starshout ships an update every 6 days, Space Channel every 33 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starshout | Space Channel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (581 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-channel/id1558243913/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **581** |
| Positive reviews | — | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 33 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 40 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Sean MacGuire](https://appshunter.io/developer/949243232) | [Space Channel Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1491954828) |

## What reviewers say

### Starshout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starshout/id949243233)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Space Channel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-channel/id1558243913)

This platform delivers global news and entertainment focused on space exploration and industry. It covers commerce, policy, and community developments in low Earth orbit and beyond, offering news, movies, and live coverage.

**Highlights:** Global space news, Space industry coverage, Movies and entertainment, Live programming, Exclusive events

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Space Channel Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Space Channel Premium Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Movie Purchase Tier 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Movie Purchase Tier 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Movie Purchase Tier 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Movie Purchase Tier 10 | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Excellent educational content on space topics
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly programming suitable for children
- 🎬 Great selection of classic sci-fi movies
- 💰 Free ad-supported streaming model
- 📺 24/7 continuous space content available

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App frequently fails to load or open
- 📵 Persistent offline status issues
- ⚠️ Long-standing technical problems (months)
- 🔔 Intrusive pop-up comments during content
- 😤 Reliability concerns over extended period

**Reported bugs**

- App won't load or open
- Shows offline status when launched
- Persistent crashes affecting multiple users over months
- Pop-up comments appearing during video playback

**Requested features**

- Improved app stability and loading performance
- Option to disable or control pop-up comments
- Better offline functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starshout free?

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

### Is Space Channel free?

Space Channel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Starshout or Space Channel have ads?

Neither Starshout nor Space Channel shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starshout or Space Channel?

Starshout ships an update every 6 days, and Space Channel every 33 months. Most recently, Starshout was updated on October 26, 2026 and Space Channel 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.*