# Starmap vs Star Guide

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Starmap at 77% against Star Guide's 27%. Starmap also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Star Guide's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Starmap sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Star Guide sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Star Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Star Guide has 4.3K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 77% of Starmap's written reviews are positive against 27% of Star Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Starmap ships an update every 2 weeks, Star Guide every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starmap | Star Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap/id284408099/reviews) | **[4.5 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-guide-night-sky-map/id1542535191/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **4.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.6% of reviews** | 26.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 110 MB | 220 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fredd](https://appshunter.io/developer/283006534) | [Star register](https://appshunter.io/developer/1542535193) |

## What reviewers say

### Starmap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap/id284408099)

Explore the night sky with a comprehensive star atlas. Identify celestial objects, track comets and asteroids, and access detailed information on stars, constellations, and lunar features. Includes live solar physics data and a red night-vision mode for stargazing.

**Highlights:** Extensive star and object catalogues, Live solar physics data, Detailed lunar features, Real-time comet and asteroid tracking, Telescope and eyepiece simulation, Red night-vision mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What Happens when Galaxies Collide? | $0.99 | one-time |
| Wandering the Summer Sky | $0.99 | one-time |
| Exploring the Crab Nebula | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10h8'22", 11°58'2" | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Star That Should Not Exist | $0.99 | one-time |
| Un océan d'étoiles | $0.99 | one-time |
| Esculape | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sur le dos du cheval ailé | $0.99 | one-time |
| L'étoile qui ne devrait pas exister | $0.99 | one-time |
| Vieillesse prématurée à Galaxie-Ville | $0.99 | one-time |


### Star Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-guide-night-sky-map/id1542535191)

Transform your device into a real-time planetarium to explore the night sky. Identify stars and planets, and plan optimal viewing times. Experience celestial objects in 3D and preview future or past sky conditions from any location.

**Highlights:** Real-time star and planet identification, Augmented Reality sky overlay, 3D celestial object visualization, Best viewing time notifications, Sky time travel (past/future), Location-based sky preview

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Star-Registration Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Annually | $29.99 | per year |
| One time | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starmap free?

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

### Is Star Guide free?

Star Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Starmap or Star Guide?

Star Guide is rated higher. Starmap averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Star Guide averages 4.5 from 4.3K ratings.

### Do Starmap or Star Guide have ads?

Neither Starmap nor Star Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starmap or Star Guide?

Starmap ships an update every 2 weeks, and Star Guide every 8 days. Most recently, Starmap was updated on October 22, 2026 and Star Guide on October 22, 2026.

---

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