# NASA vs Stellarium Mobile

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NASA at none against Stellarium Mobile's 2. NASA also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and device support (4 vs 2). Stellarium Mobile's advantage is review sentiment (84% vs 70%) and chart position (#158 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stellarium Mobile sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. NASA asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for NASA against 4.8 for Stellarium Mobile. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64K and 37K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of NASA's written reviews are positive against 84% of Stellarium Mobile's.

NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | NASA | Stellarium Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516/reviews)** | [4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **64K** | 37K |
| Positive reviews | 69.9% of reviews | **83.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#158** |
| Size | 60 MB | 456 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NASA](https://appshunter.io/developer/355542146) | [Noctua Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/629435881) |

## What reviewers say

### NASA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nasa/id334325516)

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.

**Highlights:** NASA+ video streaming, 21,000+ NASA images, Latest NASA news, Mission updates, Podcasts, ISS tracking and Sky View, Augmented reality experiences

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast loading
- 👍 Informative and educational
- 🌟 Amazing images and videos
- 💻 Great for learning about space
- 🔭 Comprehensive space information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find content
- 📺 Missing live streaming features
- 🔄 Outdated user interface
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### Stellarium Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890)

**Currently charting:** #158 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Explore the night sky with a real-time planetarium. Identify stars, planets, constellations, and satellites by simply pointing your phone. Offers detailed astronomical data and cultural constellation interpretations.

**Highlights:** Real-time sky simulation, Identify stars, planets, satellites, Constellation shapes and illustrations, Deep sky object catalog, Night mode for eye comfort, Telescope control (Plus)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stellarium PLUS | $1.99 | per month |
| Stellarium PLUS | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Fabulous star tracking
- 🌌 Detailed night sky information
- 🔭 Helpful for stargazing and astronomy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🌍 Accurate for different locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding some objects
- 🌓 Inaccurate moon/planet positions in daylight
- 🔧 Calibration issues with compass
- 💰 Paid version may not justify the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Compass not working properly
- Favorites list disappearing
- Inconsistent performance on different devices

**Requested features**

- Notifications for astronomical events
- More customization options
- Integration with camera for AR overlay
- Better support for telescopes and mounts
- Improved search and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NASA free?

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

### Is Stellarium Mobile free?

Stellarium Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NASA or Stellarium Mobile?

NASA is rated higher. NASA averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64K ratings, while Stellarium Mobile averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.

### Do NASA or Stellarium Mobile have ads?

Neither NASA nor Stellarium Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NASA or Stellarium Mobile?

NASA ships an update every 2 weeks, and Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Most recently, NASA was updated on September 24, 2026 and Stellarium Mobile on September 24, 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.*