Comparison

Galaxy Map vs Planetarium

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

Head to head
About

Galaxy Map

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
Read full description

The galaxy map is an interactive map of the Milky Way galaxy, Andromeda and their satellite galaxies. Explore the Orion Arm's nebulae and supernovae from the comfort of your spaceship. Fly through the atmosphere of Mars and many other planets and you can even land on them. Discover the galaxy in a stunning three dimensional map based on NASA's artistic impression of the Milky Way galactic structure. Photos are taken by NASA spacecraft and ground based telescopes like Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-Ray, Herschel Space Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope. This interactive 3D map is excellent for teachers to use for instruction, and it is a great astronomy resource for students to explore the Milky Way galaxy and space as they learn more about the universe we live in. Available in over 100 languages! You can also From the outskirts of the galaxy, in the Norma-Outer spiral arm to the galactic center's supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, discover a galaxy full of amazing facts. Notable structures included: the Pillars of Creation, Helix Nebula, the Engraved Hourglass Nebula, the Pleiades, the Orion Arm (where the solar system and the Earth are located) with its Orion belt. Check out neighboring dwarf galaxies such as Sagittarius and the Canis Major Overdensity, stellar streams as well as internal galactic components such as a variety of nebulae, star clusters or supernovae. Explore space and get a little closer to our wonderful universe with this awesome astronomy app! The Galaxy Map requires internet access to retrieve information from the wiki.

About

Planetarium

Explore the cosmos with a realistic virtual sky map. Identify stars, planets, and constellations using AR, and simulate celestial events. Access a vast knowledge base for an immersive astronomical learning experience.

Highlights
  • Realistic star and sky simulation
  • AR real-time celestial identification
  • Constellation and star information
  • Celestial phenomenon simulation
  • Extensive astronomical knowledge base
  • Diverse observation modes
  • Night mode for reduced light pollution
Features
Read full description

Virtual Planetarium is a starry sky exploration and learning app for the general public and astronomy enthusiasts. Based on real celestial data and astronomical algorithms, it brings the vast starry sky to the palm of your hand. With Planetarium Mobile, you can view the sky anytime, anywhere, explore constellations and planets, simulate various rare astronomical phenomena, and learn a wealth of astronomical knowledge. Whether you're a student looking to enhance your astronomy interests, an amateur astronomer seeking observation assistance, or simply a casual user appreciating the night sky, Planetarium Mobile offers an immersive observing experience. Feature Highlights 1. Realistic Starry Sky Simulation Built-in celestial data recreates the sky as it would have appeared at that moment based on date, time, and geographic location. Users can freely select a location and time to simulate the starry sky from any region around the world. Speed ​​forward and backward time allows for easy observation of celestial motion and astronomical phenomena. Supporting AR real-time viewing, it combines real-world views with the phone's starry sky, making celestial object identification even easier. 2. Star and Constellation Identification Covering 88 common constellations and thousands of stars, with complete and detailed information. Provides a connection diagram for over 318 Chinese astronomical officials, admiring the wisdom of the ancients. Provides information such as celestial body names, brightness, and coordinates, facilitating both observation and learning. Provides real-time positions of tens of thousands of artificial satellites, allowing you to understand their dynamic movements. One-click identification of planets, stars, artificial satellites, and deep-sky objects in the current sky makes stargazing simple and fun. 3. Celestial Phenomenon Simulation and Demonstration Supports dynamic simulation of important astronomical phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses, planetary conjunctions, and meteor showers. Users can preview upcoming astronomical phenomena and review spectacular historical events. Slow motion playback and pause functions help users better understand the principles of astronomical phenomena. 4. Extensive Astronomical Knowledge Base Includes detailed constellation descriptions, including mythological origins, historical sources, and scientific information. Provides physical parameters, orbital information, and observation conditions for planets and satellites. More than just an observation tool, it's a portable astronomical encyclopedia. 5. Diverse Observation Modes Switch between equatorial and horizontal coordinates to meet the needs of users at all levels. A night mode reduces light pollution interference, making it ideal for nighttime observations. Built-in zoom and angle adjustment functions facilitate detailed observation. 6. Interactive and Immersive Experience The interface is simple and intuitive, with smooth operation. Users can freely explore the universe by dragging, zooming, and zooming. Supports real-time positioning, allowing you to see corresponding stars in the sky just by looking up. The immersive visual design makes you feel like you're in a real planetarium. 7. Personalized Settings Customize your observing location, time, and viewing angle to create your own virtual starry sky. Save and share your observations to appreciate the beauty of the universe with friends. Combining learning and entertainment, it meets diverse needs from beginners to advanced users. 8. Learning and Science Aids Suitable for students learning astronomy and supporting classroom demonstrations. Intuitive images and animations help you understand complex astronomical phenomena. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.tianwenguan.com.cn/privacy_en.html

Screenshots

Galaxy Map4 screens
Planetarium4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Planetarium at none against Galaxy Map's shown. Planetarium also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 80%) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

Both are free to download. Galaxy Map sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Planetarium sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Galaxy Map ships an update every 3 weeks, Planetarium every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Galaxy Map versus Planetarium: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGalaxy MapPlanetarium
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (617 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews79.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings617 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size655 MB183 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrei Nistorescu雪飞 鲍

Customer experience

Galaxy Map

All ratings612 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive79.8%
Neutral6.7%
Negative13.5%

Planetarium

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Galaxy Map

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • 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
Show 4 more
  • Mars moon orbital speed incorrect
  • App kicks users out during exploration
  • Loading issues and incomplete functionality
  • Inconsistent performance across platforms

Requested features

18 requests
  • 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)
Show 13 more
  • Ability to click on stars within galaxies for details
  • Generated planets around stars
  • Sandbox/creation mode for user-generated content
  • Animation for Milky Way and Andromeda
  • More galaxy variety in the app
  • Coordinates filter for objects
  • Space-Engine style gameplay
  • Flying through galaxies feature
  • More female character customization options
  • VIP version option
  • Brown dwarfs addition
  • Photosphere viewing mode
  • More detailed star information

Planetarium

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Galaxy Map

One-time10
  • Remove ads$1.99
  • Buy ship - Alien Destroyer$1.99
  • Buy ship - Alien fighter$1.99
Show 7 more
  • 3D Visualization Pack$1.99
  • Buy ship - Dragon Frigate$1.99
  • Remove ads$3.99
  • 3D Visualization Pack$3.99
  • Ultimate bundle - SALE$4.99
  • Essentials bundle$4.99
  • Ultimate bundle$8.99
2 purchases

Planetarium

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Member$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Member$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Galaxy Map free?
Galaxy Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Planetarium free?
Planetarium is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Galaxy Map or Planetarium have ads?
Galaxy Map shows ads; Planetarium does not.
Which is updated more often, Galaxy Map or Planetarium?
Galaxy Map ships an update every 3 weeks, and Planetarium every 11 days. Most recently, Galaxy Map was updated on November 6, 2026 and Planetarium on November 5, 2026.

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