# Star Map vs Stellarium Mobile

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Stellarium Mobile at 84% against Star Map's 20%. Stellarium Mobile also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.2) and ratings volume (37K vs 6). Star Map's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stellarium Mobile sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Star Map asks for nothing beyond the download.

Stellarium Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stellarium Mobile has 37K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Star Map's written reviews are positive against 84% of Stellarium Mobile's.

Star Map ships an update every 3 days, Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Map | Stellarium Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-map-explore-the-sky/id1431654092/reviews) | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **37K** |
| Positive reviews | 20.0% of reviews | **83.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#81** |
| Size | 74 MB | 456 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 17 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GUANGDONG WORDWORLD SCIENCE & EDUCATION CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807328987) | [Noctua Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/629435881) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-map-explore-the-sky/id1431654092)

Explore the night sky with this stargazing app. Point your device to the sky to identify thousands of stars, planets, constellations, and more. It uses your device's sensors and GPS to provide an accurate celestial view.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality sky view, Identify stars, planets, and constellations, Uses device sensors and GPS, Explore thousands of celestial objects, Track ISS and satellites

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Stellarium Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Explore the night sky with a real-time planetarium. Identify stars, planets, constellations, and satellites by simply pointing your phone. Offers detailed astronomical data and cultural constellation interpretations.

**Highlights:** Real-time sky simulation, Identify stars, planets, satellites, Constellation shapes and illustrations, Deep sky object catalog, Night mode for eye comfort, Telescope control (Plus)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stellarium PLUS | $1.99 | per month |
| Stellarium PLUS | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Fabulous star tracking
- 🌌 Detailed night sky information
- 🔭 Helpful for stargazing and astronomy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🌍 Accurate for different locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding some objects
- 🌓 Inaccurate moon/planet positions in daylight
- 🔧 Calibration issues with compass
- 💰 Paid version may not justify the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Compass not working properly
- Favorites list disappearing
- Inconsistent performance on different devices

**Requested features**

- Notifications for astronomical events
- More customization options
- Integration with camera for AR overlay
- Better support for telescopes and mounts
- Improved search and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Star Map free?

Star Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Stellarium Mobile free?

Stellarium Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Star Map or Stellarium Mobile?

Stellarium Mobile is rated higher. Star Map averages 2.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Stellarium Mobile averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.

### Do Star Map or Stellarium Mobile have ads?

Neither Star Map nor Stellarium Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Star Map or Stellarium Mobile?

Star Map ships an update every 3 days, and Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Most recently, Star Map was updated on June 1, 2026 and Stellarium Mobile on September 26, 2026.

---

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