# ioLight Microscope vs Galaxy Map

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Galaxy Map at 80% against ioLight Microscope's 20%. Galaxy Map also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.5) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 11 months). ioLight Microscope's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Galaxy Map sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. ioLight Microscope asks for nothing beyond the download.

Galaxy Map holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Galaxy Map has 600 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of ioLight Microscope's written reviews are positive against 80% of Galaxy Map's.

ioLight Microscope ships an update every 11 months, Galaxy Map every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ioLight Microscope | Galaxy Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iolight-microscope/id1105416031/reviews) | **[4.6 (600 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **600** |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 613 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ioLight Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1105416030) | [Andrei Nistorescu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1048905386) |

## What reviewers say

### ioLight Microscope

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iolight-microscope/id1105416031)

Capture stunning images and videos of microscopic subjects with a high-resolution portable digital microscope. This app connects to the device, displaying detailed views of cells and other specimens directly on your mobile screen.

**Highlights:** Displays microscopic images and videos, Captures high-resolution images, Connects to portable digital microscope, Shows animal and plant cells, Displays on tablet or mobile phone

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Galaxy Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456)

Explore the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies in an interactive 3D map. Discover nebulae, supernovae, and planets, with stunning visuals based on NASA data. Ideal for education and space enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D galaxy map, Explore nebulae and supernovae, Fly through planetary atmospheres, Land on planets, Based on NASA data, Available in 100+ languages

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien Destroyer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Alien fighter | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Buy ship - Dragon Frigate | $1.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle - SALE | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| 3D Visualization Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle - SALE | $4.99 | one-time |
| Essentials bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate bundle | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌌 Impressive 3D galaxy and nebula visualizations
- 🚀 Spaceship exploration feature with landing capability
- 📚 Educational content about space and astronomy
- 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay mechanics
- ✨ No ads in free version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall for most content
- 🐛 App crashes and fails to load
- 🎮 Poor control mechanics for flying and walking
- 🔍 Lack of zoom functionality or unclear controls
- 🌑 Black holes look too similar to each other

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Explore button shows nothing
- Pinch-to-zoom doesn't work
- App won't load on iPad
- Text displays as boxes in language settings

**Requested features**

- Search button to find galaxies and objects
- More diverse and realistic black hole designs
- AR feature to identify stars/planets in real sky
- More free content and objects
- Exoplanet additions (TRAPPIST-1e, J1407B)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ioLight Microscope free?

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

### Is Galaxy Map free?

Galaxy Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ioLight Microscope or Galaxy Map?

Galaxy Map is rated higher. ioLight Microscope averages 2.5 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Galaxy Map averages 4.6 from 600 ratings.

### Do ioLight Microscope or Galaxy Map have ads?

Galaxy Map shows ads; ioLight Microscope does not.

### Which is updated more often, ioLight Microscope or Galaxy Map?

ioLight Microscope ships an update every 11 months, and Galaxy Map every 5 weeks. Most recently, ioLight Microscope was updated on September 7, 2026 and Galaxy Map on September 25, 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.*