EXPLORER Connect vs Hughes BGAN
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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).
Hughes BGAN
Manage your WiFi-enabled satellite terminals with ease. View status information, access the terminal's user interface, and find links to communication apps. Easily change IP addresses for terminal access.
- Manage WiFi enabled terminals
- Display status information
- Quick link to terminal UI
- Links to VOIP and messaging apps
- Change terminal IP address
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This app allows you to easily manage your WiFi enabled Hughes BGAN terminals. It displays status information and provides a quick link to the terminal user interface. It includes a page of links to popular VOIP and messagings apps that can be used over the satellite system. The settings page allows you to change the IP Address to access your terminal. This app brings together all the useful information and tools you need to quickly manage your terminal.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Hughes BGAN at every 3 weeks against EXPLORER Connect's every 10 months. Hughes BGAN also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for EXPLORER Connect against 5.0 for Hughes BGAN. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.
EXPLORER Connect ships an update every 10 months, Hughes BGAN every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EXPLORER Connect | Hughes BGAN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thrane & Thrane AS | Hughes Network Systems, LLC |
Customer experience
EXPLORER Connect
Hughes BGAN
In-app purchases
EXPLORER Connect
No in-app purchases
Hughes BGAN
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is EXPLORER Connect free?
Is Hughes BGAN free?
Which has better reviews, EXPLORER Connect or Hughes BGAN?
Do EXPLORER Connect or Hughes BGAN have ads?
Which is updated more often, EXPLORER Connect or Hughes BGAN?
Other comparisons
