Comparison

Star Walk 2 Plus vs Space Gate

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

Head to head
About

Star Walk 2 Plus

Explore the cosmos with a real-time sky map. Point your device to identify stars, planets, and constellations. Discover celestial events and learn about the universe with detailed information and 3D models.

Highlights
  • Real-time sky map
  • 3D constellation models
  • Time machine feature
  • Deep sky object identification
  • Augmented reality mode
  • Celestial event tracking
Features
Read full description

Star Walk 2 Plus is an exquisite stargazing app that enables you to explore the sky through the screen of your device. Make an effortless journey through thousands of stars, planets and constellations. All you have to do is point your device to the sky! ⁕BEST OF 2014: The next generation of the best-selling Star Walk, winner of Apple Design Award, used by over 10 million people⁕ The app uses your device’s sensors and the GPS to determine the exact position of stars, planets, constellations and other objects in the sky. “She’s a beauty.”- The Next Web “Star Walk 2 is a terrific introduction to astronomy for young and old. It’s also handy for serious stargazers for observing planning.” - TUAW “Star Walk 2 is visually stunning.” - PCmag “This is a very beautiful and unusual application that turns your phone into a real planetarium.” - Free apps for me “For those who enjoy the original app, Star Walk 2 is worth the upgrade — the interface is gorgeous. Anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy should grab Star Walk 2.” - iLounge “It is worth every penny.” - PadGadget Star Walk 2 Plus in travel & tourism industry: ‘Rapa Nui Stargazing’ based on Easter Island uses the app for sky observations during its astronomical tours. ‘Nakai Resorts Group’ in the Maldives uses the app during astronomy meetings. Main features: ◆ Map of the sky in real time ◆ 3D models of constellations and other sky objects ◆ “Time machine” ◆ Deep sky objects ◆ Rich info about celestial bodies and sky events ◆ The sky at different wavelengths ◆ Augmented reality mode ◆ "What's new" section with the latest astronomical news ◆ "Visible Tonight" section ► Star Walk 2 Plus shows the real-time map of the sky on your screen in whatever direction you are pointing the device (the Star spotter feature). As you point your device towards the sky, the star map follows your motions using the built-in gyroscope to match the map on your screen to the stars seen from your location. ► What's up in the sky tonight? Open the "Visible Tonight" section and learn about the upcoming astronomical events and celestial objects that will be visible from your location. ► Be aware of the latest news from the world of space and astronomy. The app's "What's new" section will tell you about the most outstanding celestial events in time. ► Create shortcuts to take your stargazing experience to a whole new level. Go to the "Visible Tonight" section and add the shortcut to Siri. Next time when you want to access the list of astronomy events for your location, ask Siri and get it quicker than ever. ► Touching a clock-face icon at the upper-right corner of the screen allows you to select any date and time and watch the sky of different periods. ► Get a deeper understanding of the constellation`s scale and place in the night sky. Enjoy observing wonderful 3D models of constellations, turn them upside down, read their stories. ► Find and study deep sky objects such as meteor showers, planetary nebulae, star clusters, etc. The app is ad-supported and contains In-App Purchases. If you want to use the app without ads, download the paid Star Walk 2 app or remove ads from Star Walk 2 Plus with a special In-App Purchase. Star Walk 2 Plus offers an optional subscription that gives you access to all additional content and removes ads from the app. It is an auto-renewable subscription with one week free trial. At the end of each subscription duration (1 month), the subscription will automatically renew until you choose to cancel it. Users can manage their subscriptions in their account settings on the App Store. Privacy policy: http://vitotechnology.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of use: http://vitotechnology.com/terms-of-use.html Start your best stargazing experience!

About

Space Gate

Explore the universe with interactive 3D and AR experiences of the solar system. Discover celestial bodies, engage with live astronomy news, and even interact with black holes. Tailored for learning and education.

Highlights
  • 3D and AR solar system exploration
  • Interactive black hole simulations
  • Live astronomy magazine
  • Educational celestial catalogs
  • Capture and save celestial snapshots
Features
Read full description

Explore the Universe with Space-Gate - An Interactive Celestial Journey Discover the Wonders of Space: Dive into an awe-inspiring journey across the cosmos with Space-Gate. Our app brings the mysteries of the universe to your fingertips, offering a unique blend of education and entertainment. Whether you're a curious child, a student with a thirst for knowledge, or an astronomy enthusiast, our app is your gateway to exploring the solar system and beyond in stunning detail. Engage with live astronomy magazine: Dive into the cosmos with our app's magazine feature—your portal to the latest astronomy news, riveting space exploration stories, and learning progress, all in one place. Stunning 3D and AR Experiences: Experience the solar system like never before! With breathtaking 3D and advanced AR technology, you can navigate through the orbits of planets, witness the dance of their moons, and marvel at the beauty of our universe in high resolution. Our app isn't just a visual treat; it's a journey that brings the galaxy to life. Interact with Black Holes: Ever wondered what it’s like to interact with a black hole? Our innovative feature lets you manipulate the fabric of space-time, offering an immersive and educational experience. Using latest technologies, witness how black holes bend time, space, and even light at the touch of your finger. Educational Catalogs & Snapshots: Explore our extensive catalogs filled with fascinating information about each celestial body. Capture and save breathtaking celestial scenes, perfect for wallpapers or sharing your space exploration with friends. Tailored for Learning: Perfect for educators and parents, our app is an invaluable tool for teaching. From young minds to advanced learners. The app offers premium features as subscription plans and in app purchases. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, at the rate of your selected plan. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. During the free trial period, you can enjoy full access to all the app's features. If you decide to subscribe during the trial, any unused portion of the free trial period will be forfeited. For more information, please read terms of use: https://alpinebytes.ucraft.site/space-gate

Screenshots

Star Walk 2 Plus4 screens
Space Gate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Star Walk 2 Plus at Free against Space Gate's $12.99. Star Walk 2 Plus also leads on ratings volume (95K vs 200). Space Gate's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On in-app purchases, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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

Star Walk 2 Plus is free to download; Space Gate costs $12.99 up front. Star Walk 2 Plus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Space Gate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Space Gate holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Walk 2 Plus has 95K ratings behind it against 200, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Star Walk 2 Plus's written reviews are positive against 86% of Space Gate's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Star Walk 2 Plus ships an update every 6 weeks, Space Gate weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Star Walk 2 Plus versus Space Gate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStar Walk 2 PlusSpace Gate
PriceFree — better$12.99
Rating4.6 (95K ratings)4.8 (200 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.8% of reviews85.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings95K — better200
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size373 MB156 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVito Technology Inc.Ali Samaei

Customer experience

Star Walk 2 Plus

All ratings94,916 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.7%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews691 reviews
Positive69.8%
Neutral4.6%
Negative25.6%

Space Gate

All ratings200 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive85.8%
Neutral3.0%
Negative11.2%

User reviews

Star Walk 2 Plus

From 95K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Informative and educational
  • 🔭 Accurate star/planet tracking
  • 🎨 Beautiful visuals and graphics
  • 🔊 Relaxing background music
  • 🌍 Useful for stargazing and astronomy

Room to improve

  • 💢 Excessive and intrusive ads in free version
  • 🤔 Confusing navigation and controls
  • 🧭 Inaccurate compass and location tracking
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases required for full features
  • 🔄 Frequent app crashes and freezes

Space Gate

From 200 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎨 Stunning 3D graphics and visual quality
  • 🌍 Immersive AR experience for exploring planets
  • 📚 Comprehensive educational content about space
  • 🎓 Excellent tool for teachers and students
  • 📸 Screenshot/snapshot capture functionality

Room to improve

  • 💰 Misleading free-to-play pricing model
  • 🔒 Unexpected in-app purchase charges
  • 🎮 Unintuitive navigation and UI
  • 🐛 Orbital mechanics inaccuracies
  • 🌙 Moon tidal locking not correctly simulated

Bugs and requests

Star Walk 2 Plus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Compass and location tracking issues
  • Crashes and freezes when using certain features
  • Purchased upgrades not syncing across devices
  • Notifications not working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more detailed information about stars and constellations
  • Improve widget functionality and visibility of planets/satellites
  • Implement a dark mode for better visibility at night
  • Allow customization of the display and overlay options
  • Enhance the augmented reality experience

Space Gate

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Moon not tidally locked to Earth
  • Moon orbiting Earth in wrong direction
  • Planets orbiting sun in opposing/incorrect directions
  • Uranus moons glitched
  • Venus orbital speed faster than Mercury
Show 6 more
  • Navigation stuck on celestial objects (e.g., Phobos)
  • Unable to exit and return to main menu
  • In-app purchase restoration issues between devices
  • Moon rotates multiple times per orbit
  • Difficulty backing out of exploration mode
  • Mercury translation error in Turkish

Requested features

12 requests
  • Ability to set any planet as immobile center point
  • More free planets without paywall
  • Additional galaxies beyond solar system
  • Toggle for planet/moon/star name labels
  • Time-lapse function with variable speeds
Show 7 more
  • More interactive black hole visualization
  • Astrology-related content
  • Improved moon orbit accuracy
  • Correct planetary orbital directions
  • Per-app language settings independent of iOS settings
  • More detailed information and content
  • True realistic scale mode with disclaimer

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Star Walk 2 Plus

Subscriptions5
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Monthly Premium7 Days trial2 variants$0.991 Month
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Monthly Premium$0.991 Month
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium7 Days trial$5.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium$5.991 Year
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium3 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time7
  • Constellations Encyclopedia$0.99
  • Discover Solar System Objects$0.99
  • Explore Planet Finder 3D$0.99
Show 4 more
  • Satellite Tracker in the Sky$0.99
  • Night Sky View: without Ads$2.99
  • Night Sky Map: Limited Offer$5.99
  • Night Sky View: No Ads$8.99
3 purchases

Space Gate

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription3 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Subscription$12.99

Questions

Is Star Walk 2 Plus free?
Star Walk 2 Plus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Space Gate free?
Space Gate costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Star Walk 2 Plus or Space Gate?
Space Gate is rated higher. Star Walk 2 Plus averages 4.6 out of 5 from 95K ratings, while Space Gate averages 4.8 from 200 ratings.
Do Star Walk 2 Plus or Space Gate have ads?
Star Walk 2 Plus shows ads; Space Gate does not.
Which is updated more often, Star Walk 2 Plus or Space Gate?
Star Walk 2 Plus ships an update every 6 weeks, and Space Gate weekly. Most recently, Star Walk 2 Plus was updated on September 24, 2026 and Space Gate on August 1, 2026.

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