# Galaxy Map vs Astronomy Game

The clearest difference is ads: Astronomy Game at none against Galaxy Map's shown. Galaxy Map's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 13 months) and ratings volume (611 vs 10). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Galaxy Map sells 13 one-off in-app purchases and Astronomy Game sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Galaxy Map holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Galaxy Map has 611 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of Galaxy Map's written reviews are positive against 86% of Astronomy Game's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Galaxy Map ships an update every 3 weeks, Astronomy Game every 13 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Galaxy Map | Astronomy Game |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (611 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxy-map/id1170905456/reviews)** | [4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astronomy-game/id1501300649/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **611** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 79.8% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 655 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrei Nistorescu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1048905386) | [Horea Bucerzan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1459301615) |

## What reviewers say

### 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)


### Astronomy Game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astronomy-game/id1501300649)

Explore the cosmos and expand your knowledge of space. This educational application covers planets, our solar system, and galaxies, making learning about the universe engaging and accessible.

**Highlights:** Learn about planets, Explore the solar system, Discover galaxies, Improve general knowledge, Educational content

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Extra Content + Ad-Free | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Galaxy Map free?

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

### Is Astronomy Game free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Galaxy Map or Astronomy Game?

Galaxy Map is rated higher. Galaxy Map averages 4.6 out of 5 from 611 ratings, while Astronomy Game averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do Galaxy Map or Astronomy Game have ads?

Galaxy Map shows ads; Astronomy Game does not.

### Which is updated more often, Galaxy Map or Astronomy Game?

Galaxy Map ships an update every 3 weeks, and Astronomy Game every 13 months. Most recently, Galaxy Map was updated on October 24, 2026 and Astronomy Game on October 24, 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.*