# Classic Sky Map 2 vs Stellarium Mobile

The clearest difference is update cadence: Stellarium Mobile at every 5 weeks against Classic Sky Map 2's every 16 months. Stellarium Mobile also leads on chart position (#110 vs unranked) and review sentiment (84% vs 76%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Classic Sky Map 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Stellarium Mobile sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Classic Sky Map 2 against 4.8 for Stellarium Mobile. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.8K and 39K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Classic Sky Map 2's written reviews are positive against 84% of Stellarium Mobile's.

Classic Sky Map 2 ships an update every 16 months, Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Classic Sky Map 2 | Stellarium Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (9.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-sky-map-2/id1137455038/reviews) | **[4.8 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.8K | **39K** |
| Positive reviews | 75.9% of reviews | **84.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#110** |
| Size | 69 MB | 456 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [X04 Studios Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/510671181) | [Noctua Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/629435881) |

## What reviewers say

### Classic Sky Map 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/classic-sky-map-2/id1137455038)

Explore the cosmos with an intuitive and beautiful sky map.  Easily identify stars, planets, and constellations by simply pointing your device at the sky.  Track celestial events and understand astronomical movements with time-lapse features.

**Highlights:** Live sky tracking, Interactive earth map, Time-lapse sky simulation, Beautiful constellation art, Celestial object search, Night vision mode

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Straightforward and not cluttered with ads
- 🌟 Excellent for stargazing and learning about the night sky
- 🌍 Helpful ground references for locating celestial objects
- 🎓 Great educational tool for young astronomers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional calibration and alignment issues
- 🔍 Limited information on stars beyond just names
- 🌌 Can't see below the horizon
- 🗺️ Clumsy and unintuitive navigation at times
- 🔍 Small viewing area that makes it hard to see all the stars

**Reported bugs**

- Compass bearing is inaccurate
- Active tracking no longer works
- App becomes unusable after certain updates

**Requested features**

- Add information on comets, meteor showers, and other space events
- Provide an option to only show visible stars
- Improve search functionality to find planets, moons, and other objects not currently in the sky
- Offer a live tracking mode that updates in real-time


### Stellarium Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890)

**Currently charting:** #110 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Explore the night sky with a real-time planetarium. Identify stars, planets, constellations, and satellites by simply pointing your phone. Offers detailed astronomical data and cultural constellation interpretations.

**Highlights:** Real-time sky simulation, Identify stars, planets, satellites, Constellation shapes and illustrations, Deep sky object catalog, Night mode for eye comfort, Telescope control (Plus)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stellarium PLUS | $1.99 | per month |
| Stellarium PLUS | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Fabulous star tracking
- 🌌 Detailed night sky information
- 🔭 Helpful for stargazing and astronomy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🌍 Accurate for different locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding some objects
- 🌓 Inaccurate moon/planet positions in daylight
- 🔧 Calibration issues with compass
- 💰 Paid version may not justify the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Compass not working properly
- Favorites list disappearing
- Inconsistent performance on different devices

**Requested features**

- Notifications for astronomical events
- More customization options
- Integration with camera for AR overlay
- Better support for telescopes and mounts
- Improved search and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Classic Sky Map 2 free?

Classic Sky Map 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Stellarium Mobile free?

Stellarium Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Classic Sky Map 2 or Stellarium Mobile?

Stellarium Mobile is rated higher. Classic Sky Map 2 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.8K ratings, while Stellarium Mobile averages 4.8 from 39K ratings.

### Do Classic Sky Map 2 or Stellarium Mobile have ads?

Neither Classic Sky Map 2 nor Stellarium Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Classic Sky Map 2 or Stellarium Mobile?

Classic Sky Map 2 ships an update every 16 months, and Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Most recently, Classic Sky Map 2 was updated on October 27, 2026 and Stellarium Mobile on October 27, 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.*