# APT Darkness Clock vs SkySafari 8 Plus

The clearest difference is price: APT Darkness Clock at Free against SkySafari 8 Plus's $29.99. APT Darkness Clock also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). SkySafari 8 Plus's advantage is ratings volume (118 vs 5) and chart position (#67 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

APT Darkness Clock is free to download; SkySafari 8 Plus costs $29.99 up front. SkySafari 8 Plus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. APT Darkness Clock asks for nothing beyond the download.

APT Darkness Clock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SkySafari 8 Plus has 118 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of APT Darkness Clock's written reviews are positive against 86% of SkySafari 8 Plus's.

APT Darkness Clock ships an update every 11 days, SkySafari 8 Plus monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | APT Darkness Clock | SkySafari 8 Plus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $29.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apt-darkness-clock/id1351332907/reviews)** | [4.6 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari-8-plus/id6752672698/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **118** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 85.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#67** |
| Size | 1 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ivaylo Stoynov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1351332906) | [Simulation Curriculum Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/791341744) |

## What reviewers say

### APT Darkness Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apt-darkness-clock/id1351332907)

This app calculates the optimal times for deep sky astrophotography and observation based on your location and night sky conditions. It determines the duration and start/end times of ideal darkness, excluding twilight and moonlight.

**Highlights:** Calculates Deep Sky Darkness Time (DSD Time), Determines start and end times for DSD Time, Calculates DSD Time duration, Supports current location, Allows storing up to three observing sites, Free and ad-free

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SkySafari 8 Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari-8-plus/id6752672698)

**Currently charting:** #67 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

Explore the cosmos with a powerful space simulator and telescope control. Identify celestial objects, simulate the night sky, and plan your observing sessions with detailed forecasts and event finders. This app offers advanced tools for both backyard stargazers and dedicated astronomers.

**Highlights:** Point and identify stars, planets, and satellites, Simulate the night sky past and future, Control compatible telescopes, Find upcoming astronomical events, Import and manage astrophotography images, Customizable UI themes, Hourly observing condition forecasts

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SkySafari Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| SkySafari Premium | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is APT Darkness Clock free?

APT Darkness Clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SkySafari 8 Plus free?

SkySafari 8 Plus costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, APT Darkness Clock or SkySafari 8 Plus?

APT Darkness Clock is rated higher. APT Darkness Clock averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while SkySafari 8 Plus averages 4.6 from 118 ratings.

### Do APT Darkness Clock or SkySafari 8 Plus have ads?

Neither APT Darkness Clock nor SkySafari 8 Plus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, APT Darkness Clock or SkySafari 8 Plus?

APT Darkness Clock ships an update every 11 days, and SkySafari 8 Plus monthly. Most recently, APT Darkness Clock was updated on October 24, 2026 and SkySafari 8 Plus on October 30, 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.*