# Pocket Universe vs StarMap 3D+ Plus

The clearest difference is price: Pocket Universe at Free against StarMap 3D+ Plus's $2.99. StarMap 3D+ Plus's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (6.9K vs 260). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Pocket Universe is free to download; StarMap 3D+ Plus costs $2.99 up front. Pocket Universe sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and StarMap 3D+ Plus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

StarMap 3D+ Plus holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StarMap 3D+ Plus has 6.9K 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 86% of StarMap 3D+ Plus's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pocket Universe | StarMap 3D+ Plus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (260 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-universe/id306916838/reviews) | **[4.8 (6.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap-3d-plus-plus/id351986992/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 260 | **6.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 72.5% of reviews | **86.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 120 MB | 576 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Kennedy](https://appshunter.io/developer/284943103) | [Sanville Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/324038410) |

## 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


### StarMap 3D+ Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap-3d-plus-plus/id351986992)

Explore the cosmos with a portable star atlas. Identify planets, constellations, and deep sky objects using your device's sensors. Features detailed information and 3D visualizations for both beginners and advanced astronomers.

**Highlights:** Real-time satellite tracking (ISS, Hubble), Extensive star and deep sky object database, Detailed constellation information and lines, Location-based celestial object identification, 3D universe visualization, Adjustable date and time for celestial viewing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| More Stars | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent star mapping and identification
- 🔍 Detailed information on celestial objects
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🔭 Helpful for amateur astronomers
- 🌍 Works well across locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional tracking/alignment issues
- 🔍 Lack of detailed instructions/guides
- 🔒 Privacy concerns regarding data collection
- 🎨 Dislike for cartoon-style constellation art

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes on launch
- Incorrect moon and planet positioning
- Inconsistent performance after updates

**Requested features**

- More detailed deep sky object representations
- Improved tracking and compass accuracy
- Addition of educational content and tutorials
- Customization options for constellation art


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pocket Universe free?

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

### Is StarMap 3D+ Plus free?

StarMap 3D+ Plus costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pocket Universe or StarMap 3D+ Plus?

StarMap 3D+ Plus is rated higher. Pocket Universe averages 4.5 out of 5 from 260 ratings, while StarMap 3D+ Plus averages 4.8 from 6.9K ratings.

### Do Pocket Universe or StarMap 3D+ Plus have ads?

Neither Pocket Universe nor StarMap 3D+ Plus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pocket Universe or StarMap 3D+ Plus?

Pocket Universe ships an update every 5 weeks, and StarMap 3D+ Plus every 5 weeks. Most recently, Pocket Universe was updated on October 29, 2026 and StarMap 3D+ Plus on November 1, 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.*