# The Sky by Redshift vs Astronomy Observer

The clearest difference is ads: The Sky by Redshift at none against Astronomy Observer's shown. The Sky by Redshift also leads on ratings volume (816 vs 28). Astronomy Observer's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Sky by Redshift sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Astronomy Observer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for The Sky by Redshift against 4.6 for Astronomy Observer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Sky by Redshift has 816 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of The Sky by Redshift's written reviews are positive against 58% of Astronomy Observer's.

The Sky by Redshift ships an update every 2 months, Astronomy Observer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Sky by Redshift | Astronomy Observer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (816 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-sky-by-redshift/id1481867620/reviews)** | [4.6 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astronomy-observer/id1508968890/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **816** | 28 |
| Positive reviews | **65.0% of reviews** | 58.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 472 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [United Soft Media Verlag GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/330111789) | [雪平 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045915049) |

## What reviewers say

### The Sky by Redshift

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-sky-by-redshift/id1481867620)

This app is a powerful yet easy-to-use planetarium that acts as your daily astronomy companion. Simply point your device at the sky to identify planets, stars, and constellations, and explore celestial objects with detailed views and informative explanations.

**Highlights:** Identify stars, planets, and constellations, Track celestial object paths, Simulate astronomical events, Explore deep-space objects, Learn about astronomical phenomena, Eclipse timetable and simulation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Sky Premium 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| The Sky Premium 1 Year | $3.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Expertly done
- 👍 Works well
- 👍 Beautiful and accurate
- 👍 Fun to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- 🔍 Intrusive advertising
- 🔍 Information banner not useful

**Reported bugs**

- Unauthorized access to private systems

**Requested features**

- Red light option to preserve night vision
- Smaller, less obtrusive pointer
- More features and accurate information


### Astronomy Observer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astronomy-observer/id1508968890)

This app helps astronomical observers plan their viewing sessions by calculating and displaying the positions of celestial bodies. It offers AR views, a catalog of stars and deep sky objects, and an astronomical event calendar. Premium features include ad-free viewing and access to a year of ephemeris data.

**Highlights:** AR celestial body positioning, Daily sun-moon position and planet rise/set, Catalog of stars, planets, and deep sky objects, Astronomical event calendar, Yearly ephemeris calculation, Constellation and star identification

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly membership | $0.99 | per month |
| Annually Membership | $5.99 | per year |
| lifetime membership | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Sky by Redshift free?

The Sky by Redshift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Astronomy Observer free?

Astronomy Observer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Sky by Redshift or Astronomy Observer?

The Sky by Redshift is rated higher. The Sky by Redshift averages 4.7 out of 5 from 816 ratings, while Astronomy Observer averages 4.6 from 28 ratings.

### Do The Sky by Redshift or Astronomy Observer have ads?

Astronomy Observer shows ads; The Sky by Redshift does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Sky by Redshift or Astronomy Observer?

The Sky by Redshift ships an update every 2 months, and Astronomy Observer monthly. Most recently, The Sky by Redshift was updated on October 19, 2026 and Astronomy Observer on October 18, 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.*