# StarMap 3D vs Vivarium

The clearest difference is price: Vivarium at Free against StarMap 3D's $1.99. Vivarium also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks). StarMap 3D's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.2). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, Vivarium daily. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarMap 3D | Vivarium |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starmap-3d/id324038407/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 88.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 111 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sanville Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/324038410) | [Hans Renz](https://appshunter.io/developer/861362527) |

## 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


### Vivarium

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vivarium/id6760226672)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarMap 3D free?

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

### Is Vivarium free?

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

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

Neither StarMap 3D nor Vivarium shows ads.

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

StarMap 3D ships an update every 6 weeks, and Vivarium daily. Most recently, StarMap 3D was updated on November 6, 2026 and Vivarium on October 31, 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.*