NASA vs Star Walk 2 Plus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NASA
Explore the universe with access to live and on-demand NASA+ videos, a vast collection of stunning images, and the latest mission news. Discover interactive augmented reality experiences and track the International Space Station's path.
- NASA+ video streaming
- 21,000+ NASA images
- Latest NASA news
- Mission updates
- Podcasts
- ISS tracking and Sky View
- Augmented reality experiences
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The redesigned NASA App unlocks access to the new NASA+ video streaming service, plus all the latest NASA images, news, mission information, podcasts, and interactive augmented reality experiences to explore -- putting the universe at your fingertips! With the NASA App, you'll be able to: • Explore with unlimited access to NASA+, featuring all of NASA's official live coverage and original on-demand video series. No subscription required. • Easily view over 21,000 of the latest NASA images • Rate images and explore all of the highest rated ones • Read all the latest NASA news and feature articles • Get the latest updates on Artemis, the James Webb Space Telescope, and other exciting NASA missions. • Listen to our podcasts featuring astronauts and experts who take you on a tour of the galaxy without ever leaving Earth. • Set an alert for when the International Space Station will fly over your location and use the Sky View feature to help you locate the station during the visible pass • Experience our rovers and rockets up close and personal with augmented reality. • And so much more! Download the updated NASA App now!
Star Walk 2 Plus
Explore the cosmos with a real-time sky map. Point your device to identify stars, planets, and constellations. Discover celestial events and learn about the universe with detailed information and 3D models.
- Real-time sky map
- 3D constellation models
- Time machine feature
- Deep sky object identification
- Augmented reality mode
- Celestial event tracking
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Star Walk 2 Plus is an exquisite stargazing app that enables you to explore the sky through the screen of your device. Make an effortless journey through thousands of stars, planets and constellations. All you have to do is point your device to the sky! ⁕BEST OF 2014: The next generation of the best-selling Star Walk, winner of Apple Design Award, used by over 10 million people⁕ The app uses your device’s sensors and the GPS to determine the exact position of stars, planets, constellations and other objects in the sky. “She’s a beauty.”- The Next Web “Star Walk 2 is a terrific introduction to astronomy for young and old. It’s also handy for serious stargazers for observing planning.” - TUAW “Star Walk 2 is visually stunning.” - PCmag “This is a very beautiful and unusual application that turns your phone into a real planetarium.” - Free apps for me “For those who enjoy the original app, Star Walk 2 is worth the upgrade — the interface is gorgeous. Anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy should grab Star Walk 2.” - iLounge “It is worth every penny.” - PadGadget Star Walk 2 Plus in travel & tourism industry: ‘Rapa Nui Stargazing’ based on Easter Island uses the app for sky observations during its astronomical tours. ‘Nakai Resorts Group’ in the Maldives uses the app during astronomy meetings. Main features: ◆ Map of the sky in real time ◆ 3D models of constellations and other sky objects ◆ “Time machine” ◆ Deep sky objects ◆ Rich info about celestial bodies and sky events ◆ The sky at different wavelengths ◆ Augmented reality mode ◆ "What's new" section with the latest astronomical news ◆ "Visible Tonight" section ► Star Walk 2 Plus shows the real-time map of the sky on your screen in whatever direction you are pointing the device (the Star spotter feature). As you point your device towards the sky, the star map follows your motions using the built-in gyroscope to match the map on your screen to the stars seen from your location. ► What's up in the sky tonight? Open the "Visible Tonight" section and learn about the upcoming astronomical events and celestial objects that will be visible from your location. ► Be aware of the latest news from the world of space and astronomy. The app's "What's new" section will tell you about the most outstanding celestial events in time. ► Create shortcuts to take your stargazing experience to a whole new level. Go to the "Visible Tonight" section and add the shortcut to Siri. Next time when you want to access the list of astronomy events for your location, ask Siri and get it quicker than ever. ► Touching a clock-face icon at the upper-right corner of the screen allows you to select any date and time and watch the sky of different periods. ► Get a deeper understanding of the constellation`s scale and place in the night sky. Enjoy observing wonderful 3D models of constellations, turn them upside down, read their stories. ► Find and study deep sky objects such as meteor showers, planetary nebulae, star clusters, etc. The app is ad-supported and contains In-App Purchases. If you want to use the app without ads, download the paid Star Walk 2 app or remove ads from Star Walk 2 Plus with a special In-App Purchase. Star Walk 2 Plus offers an optional subscription that gives you access to all additional content and removes ads from the app. It is an auto-renewable subscription with one week free trial. At the end of each subscription duration (1 month), the subscription will automatically renew until you choose to cancel it. Users can manage their subscriptions in their account settings on the App Store. Privacy policy: http://vitotechnology.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of use: http://vitotechnology.com/terms-of-use.html Start your best stargazing experience!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NASA at none against Star Walk 2 Plus's 15. NASA also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Star Walk 2 Plus sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. NASA asks for nothing beyond the download.
NASA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64K and 95K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 70% and 70% positive.
NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, Star Walk 2 Plus every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | NASA | Star Walk 2 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) — better | 4.6 (95K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews — better | 69.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 64K | 95K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 373 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Vito Technology Inc. |
Customer experience
NASA
Star Walk 2 Plus
User reviews
NASA
From 64K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast loading
- 👍 Informative and educational
- 🌟 Amazing images and videos
- 💻 Great for learning about space
- 🔭 Comprehensive space information
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 📺 Missing live streaming features
- 🔄 Outdated user interface
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
Star Walk 2 Plus
From 95K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🌟 Informative and educational
- 🔭 Accurate star/planet tracking
- 🎨 Beautiful visuals and graphics
- 🔊 Relaxing background music
- 🌍 Useful for stargazing and astronomy
Room to improve
- 💢 Excessive and intrusive ads in free version
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and controls
- 🧭 Inaccurate compass and location tracking
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases required for full features
- 🔄 Frequent app crashes and freezes
Bugs and requests
NASA
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes on launch for some devices
- Inability to close/exit image viewer
- Notifications not working as expected
- Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Add live streaming of NASA TV
- Improve navigation and search
- Implement dark mode option
- Bring back old features (e.g. APOD widget, ISS sightings)
- Enhance 3D models and AR capabilities
Star Walk 2 Plus
Reported bugs
4 issues- Compass and location tracking issues
- Crashes and freezes when using certain features
- Purchased upgrades not syncing across devices
- Notifications not working as expected
Requested features
5 requests- Add more detailed information about stars and constellations
- Improve widget functionality and visibility of planets/satellites
- Implement a dark mode for better visibility at night
- Allow customization of the display and overlay options
- Enhance the augmented reality experience
In-app purchases
NASA
No in-app purchases
Star Walk 2 Plus
- StarWalk2 Ads+ Monthly Premium7 Days trial2 variants$0.991 Month
- StarWalk2 Ads+ Monthly Premium$0.991 Month
- StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium7 Days trial$5.991 Year
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- StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium$5.991 Year
- StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium3 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Constellations Encyclopedia$0.99
- Discover Solar System Objects$0.99
- Explore Planet Finder 3D$0.99
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Satellite Tracker in the Sky$0.99
- Night Sky View: without Ads$2.99
- Night Sky Map: Limited Offer$5.99
- Night Sky View: No Ads$8.99






