# Astrospheric vs Shadowmap

The clearest difference is rating: Astrospheric at 4.8 against Shadowmap's 3.2. Astrospheric also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 45%) and ratings volume (453 vs 6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Astrospheric sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Shadowmap sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Astrospheric holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Astrospheric has 453 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Astrospheric's written reviews are positive against 45% of Shadowmap's.

Astrospheric ships an update every 3 weeks, Shadowmap every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astrospheric | Shadowmap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (453 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrospheric/id1166046863/reviews)** | [3.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmap-sunlight-and-shade/id1566789060/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **453** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **87.7% of reviews** | 45.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#62** | #81 |
| Size | 47 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Fiordalis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166046862) | [Shadowmap Technologies GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/470503999) |

## What reviewers say

### Astrospheric

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrospheric/id1166046863)

**Currently charting:** #62 Top Grossing · Weather, #129 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app offers advanced weather forecasting and astronomical data for stargazers and astrophotographers. It provides detailed hourly forecasts, cloud and sky transparency reports, and alerts for celestial events. It also includes tools for astronomical societies and offline site setup.

**Highlights:** 84-hour hourly weather forecast, Ensemble cloud forecast, Kp index for Aurora, ISS flyover paths, Integrated smoke forecast, Sky and ground data, Rise and set times, Solar and Lunar eclipse data

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Astrospheric Pro Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Astrospheric Pro Subscription | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Precision tool for astrophotography
- 🔍 Detailed weather forecasts
- ⭐ Accurate and reliable
- 💻 Comprehensive data and features
- 📊 Helpful for planning observing sessions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional inaccurate forecasts
- 🔍 Missing some weather data (e.g. wind)
- 💰 Subscription required for full functionality
- 🔌 Compatibility issues on some devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing or not loading on some devices
- Inconsistent temperature and wind data

**Requested features**

- Notification system for clear skies
- Widgets for quick access to data
- More detailed transparency and seeing data
- Ability to flip east and west in the app


### Shadowmap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmap-sunlight-and-shade/id1566789060)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Free · Weather, #106 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Analyze sunlight and shadows for any location worldwide. Optimize solar energy, assess real estate, plan photography, and find ideal outdoor spots. Offers advanced 3D editing and data export capabilities.

**Highlights:** Sun and shadow simulation, Solar energy optimization, Real estate and architecture analysis, Photography and cinematography planning, 3D world editing, Solar data export to CSV

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shadowmap Home – Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Shadowmap Home – Monthly Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| Shadowmap Explorer – Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Shadowmap Explorer – Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Shadowmap Studio – Monthly | $59.99 | per month |
| Shadowmap Studio – Yearly | $59.99 | per month |
| Shadowmap Home – Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Shadowmap Home – Yearly Trial | $99.99 | per year |
| Shadowmap Studio – Yearly | $599.99 | per year |
| Shadowmap Studio – Yearly | $599.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astrospheric free?

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

### Is Shadowmap free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Astrospheric or Shadowmap?

Astrospheric is rated higher. Astrospheric averages 4.8 out of 5 from 453 ratings, while Shadowmap averages 3.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do Astrospheric or Shadowmap have ads?

Neither Astrospheric nor Shadowmap shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astrospheric or Shadowmap?

Astrospheric ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shadowmap every 6 weeks. Most recently, Astrospheric was updated on October 14, 2026 and Shadowmap on October 16, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Astrospheric or Shadowmap?

Astrospheric currently peaks at #62 in the App Store charts, and Shadowmap at #81. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*