Comparison

My Messier vs SkySafari

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

Head to head
About

My Messier

Explore and learn about all 110 Messier objects, including galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Access detailed information, stunning images, and track your observations. Available on iPhone and Apple Watch.

Highlights
  • Information on all 110 Messier objects
  • Detailed object data (size, brightness, distance)
  • Stunning astronomical images
  • Offline access to basic data and images
  • Observation tracking
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

My Messier is a quick reference of Messier objects: a list of the most famous galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters in astronomy. Each entry contains essential information for the object, such as size, brightness, and distance, as well as stunning images from the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories and satellites. No internet connection is required for the basic data and images, but a link is provided to open a Wikipedia page on the object for more information if you do have internet. Convenient for experienced astronomers. Educational for novice stargazers. Impress your friends by instantly accessing facts on the objects they are seeing in your telescope. Make it your personal list by checking off objects you've seen, or intend to. Features: - Information on all 110 objects in the catalog compiled by the 18th century French astronomer Charles Messier. - "About" screen with explanations of the catalog and data. - Support for Apple Watch! Holds information for all of the Messier objects on your wrist, including images. Supports Apple Watch complications for quick access. The object list on the iPhone and Apple Watch shows at a glance the Messier number, object type, and the constellation it appears in, and on the iPhone, a thumbnail image and common name, if any. Select an object in the list for detailed information: For the iPhone and Apple Watch, information includes: - Image of the object. - Alternate designation, such as NGC number. - Common name or nickname, if any. - Type of object: galaxy, nebula, globular cluster, open cluster, etc. - Constellation in which it is found. - Location coordinates in right ascension and declination. - Visual magnitude (brightness). - Apparent size in degrees of arc. - Distance in light years. - An interesting fact about the object. For the iPhone, the app also features: - A link to a Wikipedia article on the object (internet access required). - A checkbox to mark objects you have observed, or wish to observe. - An “about” page for a description of the catalog and data. - Tap on an image to zoom in (most are in high resolution color). A few taps on your iPhone or Apple Watch with the My Messier app will inform, amaze, and help you better appreciate the gems of the night sky.

About

SkySafari

Explore the cosmos with this powerful pocket planetarium. Identify celestial objects by pointing your device at the sky, access a vast database, and enjoy guided audio tours. Plan your stargazing nights with real-time visibility information and simulate the sky from any point in time.

Highlights
  • Point and identify stars, planets, and satellites
  • Interactive sky chart with real-time updates
  • Massive deep sky object database
  • Guided audio tours on astronomy
  • Simulate past and future sky events
  • Night vision mode
Features
Read full description

SkySafari 8 is a powerful planetarium that fits in your pocket, puts the universe at your fingertips, and is incredibly easy to use! Simply hold your device to the sky and quickly locate comets, planets, constellations, satellites, and millions of stars and deep sky objects. Whether you are a beginner or a longtime astronomy enthusiast, SkySafari 8 is your perfect stargazing companion, packed with interactive information, rich graphics, and a beautifully refined interface. What’s New in Version 8 + New Theme - A new look of the app with a fresh visual palette. + Image Gallery - Explore the universe through astrophotography. Import images directly from AstroBin. + Sky Tonight - Jump to the new Tonight section to see what’s visible in your sky right now. Expanded information has been designed to help plan your night and includes Moon & Sun info, calendar curations, and the best positioned deep sky and solar system objects. If you're new to SkySafari 8, here’s what you can do: + Point & Identify - Hold your device to the sky and instantly identify stars, constellations, planets, satellites, and more. The chart updates automatically with your movements. + OneSky - See what other users are observing in real-time. This feature highlights objects in the sky chart and indicates how many users are looking at them. + Orbit Mode - Lift off from Earth and travel to the planets, moons, and stars. + Guided Audio Tours - Listen to more than four hours of audio narration to learn the history, mythology, and science of the heavens. + Pronunciation Guide - Learn how to correctly pronounce the names of hundreds of celestial objects, from stars to constellations and planets. + Simulate the Sky - See an eclipse in the past or future! Simulate the night sky from anywhere on Earth many years backward or forward in time. + Night Vision - Preserve your eyesight after dark. SkySafari Premium Subscription Unlock amazing features with the optional Premium Subscription, including: + Massive Database - Access a massive deep sky database. + Custom Image Import - Upload and manage your own astrophotography images in the Image Gallery and show them in the sky chart. + Enhanced Tools - Access curated news, events, connected stargazing features, a light pollution map, and more. For telescope control and even more advanced features, check out SkySafari 8 Plus and SkySafari 8 Pro! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.livesky.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

My Messier4 screens
SkySafari4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: My Messier at none against SkySafari's 3. My Messier also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (83% vs 64%). SkySafari's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (18K vs 3). On ads 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

My Messier costs $0.99 and SkySafari $4.99 up front. SkySafari sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. My Messier asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

My Messier holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SkySafari has 18K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of My Messier's written reviews are positive against 64% of SkySafari's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

My Messier ships an update every 12 months, SkySafari monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
My Messier versus SkySafari: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMy MessierSkySafari
Price$0.99 — better$4.99
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.7 (18K ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better63.9% of reviews
Number of ratings318K — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#7 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB861 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperKirk BenderSimulation Curriculum Corp.

Customer experience

My Messier

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

SkySafari

All ratings17,862 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews377 reviews
Positive63.9%
Neutral8.0%
Negative28.1%

Bugs and requests

My Messier

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SkySafari

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Compass not working correctly
  • Disappearing or missing objects
  • Time travel feature issues
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to hide toolbar and UI elements
  • More customization options
  • Improved telescope integration
  • Better comet and new object tracking

In-app purchases

None

My Messier

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

SkySafari

Subscriptions2
  • SkySafari Premium7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • SkySafari Premium7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Apollo Lunar MissionsFree

Questions

Is My Messier free?
My Messier costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SkySafari free?
SkySafari costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, My Messier or SkySafari?
My Messier is rated higher. My Messier averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while SkySafari averages 4.7 from 18K ratings.
Do My Messier or SkySafari have ads?
Neither My Messier nor SkySafari shows ads.
Which is updated more often, My Messier or SkySafari?
My Messier ships an update every 12 months, and SkySafari monthly. Most recently, My Messier was updated on November 11, 2026 and SkySafari on November 12, 2026.

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