# StarMap 3D vs Distant Suns 5

The clearest difference is rating: StarMap 3D at 4.8 against Distant Suns 5's 4.3. StarMap 3D also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 97). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

StarMap 3D costs $1.99 and Distant Suns 5 $2.99 up front. StarMap 3D sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Distant Suns 5 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

StarMap 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StarMap 3D has 1.4K ratings behind it against 97, 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 77% of Distant Suns 5's.

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, Distant Suns 5 every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarMap 3D | Distant Suns 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap-3d/id324038407/reviews)** | [4.3 (97 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distant-suns-5/id363418936/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 97 |
| Positive reviews | **88.7% of reviews** | 76.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 111 MB | 815 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sanville Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/324038410) | [Mike Smithwick](https://appshunter.io/developer/294198918) |

## 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


### Distant Suns 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distant-suns-5/id363418936)

Explore the cosmos with a realistic and user-friendly astronomy app. Discover constellations, planets, and celestial events with detailed information and stunning visuals. Perfect for both casual stargazers and serious astronomers.

**Highlights:** Realistic night sky display, View from Earth or solar system, Over 18 million stars, Integrated NASA space events, Stories behind constellations, Night vision color mode, Hubble Space Telescope images

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hubble Guide Star Catalog | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent astronomy app
- 🔭 Comprehensive features for stargazing
- 🌍 Helpful for learning about the night sky
- 🔍 Useful for planning observing sessions
- 🌌 Stunning visuals and graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs in recent updates
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive interface changes
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🔍 Difficulty finding and selecting objects
- 🔍 Missing or inaccurate information

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when accessing preferences
- Inability to sync with iCloud
- Unresponsive or freezing app
- Incorrect or outdated information displayed
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS devices

**Requested features**

- Add more detailed information on celestial objects
- Improve compass and tracking functionality
- Provide better support for astrophotography
- Introduce a dark mode for night viewing
- Add more customization options for the user interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarMap 3D free?

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

### Is Distant Suns 5 free?

Distant Suns 5 costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, StarMap 3D or Distant Suns 5?

StarMap 3D is rated higher. StarMap 3D averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Distant Suns 5 averages 4.3 from 97 ratings.

### Do StarMap 3D or Distant Suns 5 have ads?

Neither StarMap 3D nor Distant Suns 5 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StarMap 3D or Distant Suns 5?

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, and Distant Suns 5 every 5 months. Most recently, StarMap 3D was updated on October 23, 2026 and Distant Suns 5 on October 22, 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.*