Comparison

StarMap 3D vs Star Map

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

StarMap 3D

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
Read full description

Use your iPhone's compass and gyroscope to find planets, constellations, and more with crisp, colorful, high-definition Retina graphics that use every pixel of your iPhone! Hold the universe in your pocket! • Try StarMap 3D Plus for iPad support, more stars, thousands of Deep Sky Objects, and original constellation artwork. StarMap 3D is the portable star atlas for beginners or advanced astronomers. Use StarMap 3D to find the planets, stars, constellations, star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae visible to you based on your location and time. StarMap 3D will even use the compass to automatically align the map! • Retina Display Compatibility • Over 15,000 stars, with detailed information for each of them • 303 deep sky objects, with details such as distance from Earth, diameter, apparent size and orientation, and morphology • All 88 modern constellations, with lines based on the outlines from "The Stars: A New Way to See Them" by H.A. Rey • MacRobert and Classic constellation lines also available • Location-based-services (LBS) / Global Positioning System (GPS) support, or manually enter your longitude and latitude • Adjustable date and time of day • Also adjust time instantaneously and interactively with the Time Scroll feature • Compass support, if present • Planetarium Mode for seeing only objects visible to you, or browse the entire celestial sphere • 3D Mode for visualizing the universe in three dimensions

About

Star Map

Explore the night sky with this stargazing app. Point your device to the sky to identify thousands of stars, planets, constellations, and more. It uses your device's sensors and GPS to provide an accurate celestial view.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality sky view
  • Identify stars, planets, and constellations
  • Uses device sensors and GPS
  • Explore thousands of celestial objects
  • Track ISS and satellites
Features
Read full description

Star Map is an exquisite stargazing app enabling you to explore the night sky through the screen of your device. Make an effortless journey through thousands of stars, comets, and constellations. All you have to do is point your device to the sky! Star Map taps your device’s sensors and the GPS to determine the exact position of stars, planets, constellations, comets, ISS, satellites, star clusters, nebulae and meteor showers in the night sky.

Screenshots

StarMap 3D4 screens
Star Map4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: StarMap 3D at 89% against Star Map's 20%. StarMap 3D also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.2) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 6). Star Map's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StarMap 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StarMap 3D has 1.4K ratings behind it against 6, 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 20% of Star Map's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, Star Map every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
StarMap 3D versus Star Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarMap 3DStar Map
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better2.2 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews88.7% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.4K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size111 MB74 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSanville SoftwareGUANGDONG WORDWORLD SCIENCE & EDUCATION CO., LTD.

Customer experience

StarMap 3D

All ratings1,369 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral1.1%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews274 reviews
Positive88.7%
Neutral2.2%
Negative9.1%

Star Map

All ratings6 ratings
Positive16.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%

Bugs and requests

StarMap 3D

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Calendar integration issues
  • Incorrect positioning of celestial bodies

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Star Map

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

StarMap 3D

One-time3
  • Constellation Artwork$0.99
  • More Stars$0.99
  • More Stars$1.99
None

Star Map

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StarMap 3D free?
StarMap 3D costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Star Map free?
Star Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, StarMap 3D or Star Map?
StarMap 3D is rated higher. StarMap 3D averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Star Map averages 2.2 from 6 ratings.
Do StarMap 3D or Star Map have ads?
Neither StarMap 3D nor Star Map shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StarMap 3D or Star Map?
StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, and Star Map every 3 days. Most recently, StarMap 3D was updated on September 25, 2026 and Star Map on June 1, 2026.

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