# StarMap 3D vs MeteorActive

The clearest difference is price: MeteorActive at Free against StarMap 3D's $1.99. MeteorActive also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). StarMap 3D's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

MeteorActive is free to download; StarMap 3D costs $1.99 up front. StarMap 3D sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. MeteorActive asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for StarMap 3D against 4.8 for MeteorActive. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.4K and 2.3K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 89% and 89% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarMap 3D | MeteorActive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap-3d/id324038407/reviews) | [4.8 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meteoractive/id1205712190/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 88.7% of reviews | **88.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 111 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sanville Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/324038410) | [Alexander Vasenin](https://appshunter.io/developer/665864046) |

## 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


### 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 StarMap 3D free?

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

### Is MeteorActive free?

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

### Which has better reviews, StarMap 3D or MeteorActive?

StarMap 3D and MeteorActive are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.4K and 2.3K ratings respectively.

### Do StarMap 3D or MeteorActive have ads?

Neither StarMap 3D nor MeteorActive shows ads.

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

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, and MeteorActive every 6 weeks. Most recently, StarMap 3D was updated on September 22, 2026 and MeteorActive on September 20, 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.*