# My Messier vs SkySafari

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | My Messier | SkySafari |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-messier/id1199170606/reviews)** | [4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari/id1257281849/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 63.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#8** |
| Size | 54 MB | 861 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kirk Bender](https://appshunter.io/developer/1199170605) | [Simulation Curriculum Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/791341744) |

## What reviewers say

### My Messier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-messier/id1199170606)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### SkySafari

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari/id1257281849)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Paid · Reference, #194 Top Paid (US App Store)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SkySafari Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| SkySafari Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Apollo Lunar Missions | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly
- 🚀 Accurate sky mapping
- 🌌 Detailed information on celestial objects
- 💡 Helpful for stargazing and astronomy
- 🔭 Useful for telescope owners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🤑 Excessive upselling and in-app purchases
- 🤯 Confusing version and feature differences
- 🙄 Intrusive notifications and sounds
- 🤔 Difficult to use some features

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*