# StarMap 3D vs Starry Map

The clearest difference is price: Starry Map at Free against StarMap 3D's $1.99. Starry Map also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). StarMap 3D's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (89% vs 62%). On in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Starry Map is free to download; StarMap 3D costs $1.99 up front. StarMap 3D sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Starry Map sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

StarMap 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StarMap 3D has 1.4K ratings behind it against 246, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of StarMap 3D's written reviews are positive against 62% of Starry Map's.

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, Starry Map every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarMap 3D | Starry Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap-3d/id324038407/reviews)** | [4.5 (246 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starry-map/id1176591850/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 246 |
| Positive reviews | **88.7% of reviews** | 62.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 111 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sanville Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/324038410) | [にゃんこソフトウェア](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843663669) |

## What reviewers say

### StarMap 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap-3d/id324038407)

Explore the night sky with this astronomy guide. It uses your device's sensors to identify planets, constellations, and deep sky objects in real-time. Discover detailed information about celestial bodies and visualize the universe in 3D.

**Highlights:** Real-time celestial object identification, Augmented reality night sky view, Detailed information on stars and deep sky objects, Constellation artwork and line options, Location-based celestial mapping, 3D universe visualization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Constellation Artwork | $0.99 | one-time |
| More Stars | $0.99 | one-time |
| More Stars | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate mapping of stars and planets
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Useful for learning about the night sky
- 🌟 Provides a great stargazing experience
- 🔭 Helpful for amateur astronomers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies in mapping
- 🧭 Compass/directional issues
- 🌌 Limited information on deep sky objects
- 🕰️ Time slider could be more intuitive

**Reported bugs**

- Calendar integration issues
- Incorrect positioning of celestial bodies

**Requested features**

- Improved 3D mode and controls
- More detailed information on planets, stars, and galaxies
- Alerts for upcoming astronomical events
- Option to search for specific celestial objects


### Starry Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starry-map/id1176591850)

Identify stars, constellations, and satellites by pointing your phone at the night sky. Augmented reality overlays display celestial names in real-time. Receive notifications for upcoming satellite passes and meteor showers.

**Highlights:** AR celestial identification, Constellation and star catalog, Satellite tracking and alerts, Meteor shower notifications, Offline functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Features | $0.99 | per month |
| Unlock Features | $0.99 | per month |
| Unlock Features | $3.99 | per year |
| Unlock Features | $3.99 | per year |
| Unlock Features (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarMap 3D free?

StarMap 3D costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Starry Map free?

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

### Which has better reviews, StarMap 3D or Starry Map?

StarMap 3D is rated higher. StarMap 3D averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Starry Map averages 4.5 from 246 ratings.

### Do StarMap 3D or Starry Map have ads?

Starry Map shows ads; StarMap 3D does not.

### Which is updated more often, StarMap 3D or Starry Map?

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, and Starry Map every 2 weeks. Most recently, StarMap 3D was updated on September 22, 2026 and Starry Map on September 19, 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.*