# Pocket Universe vs MeteorActive

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MeteorActive at none against Pocket Universe's 3. MeteorActive also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (89% vs 73%). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pocket Universe sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. MeteorActive asks for nothing beyond the download.

MeteorActive holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MeteorActive has 2.4K ratings behind it against 260, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Pocket Universe's written reviews are positive against 89% of MeteorActive's.

Pocket Universe ships an update every 5 weeks, MeteorActive every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocket Universe | MeteorActive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (260 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-universe/id306916838/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meteoractive/id1205712190/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 260 | **2.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 72.5% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 120 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Kennedy](https://appshunter.io/developer/284943103) | [Alexander Vasenin](https://appshunter.io/developer/665864046) |

## What reviewers say

### Pocket Universe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-universe/id306916838)

Explore the night sky with this intuitive guide. Identify planets, constellations, and satellites by simply pointing your device. Discover celestial events, track celestial bodies, and learn about thousands of astronomical objects.

**Highlights:** Live sky view with object identification, Time travel for celestial event prediction, Explore mode for upcoming events and solar activity, Search and browse celestial objects, Detailed information on thousands of objects, Home Screen widgets for Sun/Moon times and Moon phase, Customizable viewing modes with night vision

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription | $4.99 | per year |
| Pocket Universe Lifetime unlock | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app
- 👍 Useful for astronomy
- 👍 Excellent educational tool
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Accurate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes
- 🐛 Inaccurate compass/tracking
- 🐛 Buggy after updates
- 🐛 Doesn't work on older devices
- 🐛 Location issues

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Compass issues
- Inaccurate sky positioning
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to set time and date
- Improved motion tracking and compass calibration
- Larger text size options
- More detailed information on stars, galaxies, etc.
- Comet and asteroid tracking


### MeteorActive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meteoractive/id1205712190)

Get accurate meteor shower forecasts based on your location, moon phase, and light pollution. Discover major events, upcoming nights, and hourly estimates for the best viewing opportunities.

**Highlights:** Major events calendar, Upcoming nights predictions, Hour-by-hour estimates, Meteor showers reference, Location-based accuracy, Moon interference calculation, Light pollution consideration

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Amazing app with great features
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 🔭 Detailed and accurate information on meteor showers
- 💫 Stunning visualizations and animations
- 🆓 Free and ad-free app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Missing notifications for upcoming events
- 🗺️ Lacking location-based features
- 🔍 Could use more detailed instructions and explanations

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to access certain features
- Charts and visualizations not updating correctly
- Inconsistent performance on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add notification system for meteor showers
- Integrate with calendar app for easy scheduling
- Provide more location-specific data and recommendations
- Expand coverage to include more minor meteor showers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pocket Universe free?

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

### Is MeteorActive free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pocket Universe or MeteorActive?

MeteorActive is rated higher. Pocket Universe averages 4.5 out of 5 from 260 ratings, while MeteorActive averages 4.8 from 2.4K ratings.

### Do Pocket Universe or MeteorActive have ads?

Neither Pocket Universe nor MeteorActive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pocket Universe or MeteorActive?

Pocket Universe ships an update every 5 weeks, and MeteorActive every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pocket Universe was updated on October 29, 2026 and MeteorActive on October 29, 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.*