SkyORB Classic Astronomy vs Starry Map
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SkyORB Classic Astronomy
Explore the cosmos with a 3D planetarium and real-time celestial event tracking. Identify stars and planets using your device's sensors and AR, and receive notifications for upcoming astronomical phenomena. Access detailed information and simulations from any location.
- 3D star map and planetarium
- Real-time planet orbits
- AR night sky identification
- Celestial event notifications
- Universal search for celestial objects
- Moon phase tracking
- Worldwide sky simulations
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Unleash the power of the universe with SkyORB, your all-in-one astronomy companion. Explore the stars, planets, and celestial events like never before. Discover the wonders of the cosmos and stay informed about astronomical phenomena. Why Choose SkyORB? Astronomy at Your Fingertips: SkyORB is a lightweight and fast astronomy app designed to put the universe in the palm of your hand. With a 3D star map, a feature-packed planetarium, ephemeris with notifications, and much more, it's your gateway to the cosmos. Real-Time 3D Universe: Immerse yourself in a breathtaking 3D representation of our solar system. Watch as planets orbit the sun in real-time. Zoom in for a closer look at the planets or zoom out to explore the entire Milky Way. Explore the Night Sky: SkyORB brings the night sky to life. Use your device to point at a star or planet, and our app will identify it for you. Whether you rely on GPS positioning, compass orientation, gyroscope data, or ARKit, we've got you covered. Stay Informed: Keep track of comets and satellites with updates from the web. Stay on top of celestial events with personalized ephemeris that covers the next 60 days. Whether it's the peak of a meteor shower or a planetary elongation, we'll make sure you're in the know. Universal Search: Looking for a specific celestial object? Our universal search engine lets you find everything from constellations and planets to space probes and more with just a few keystrokes. Moon Phases: SkyORB provides moon phase information, including rise and set times. Explore the moon's changing faces and understand its impact on the night sky. Worldwide Simulations: Simulate the night sky from any location on Earth or even from other planets like Mars. SkyORB Classic lets you explore the universe from wherever you are. Notifications: Receive local notifications for significant astronomical events like planet visibility, full and new moons, and eclipses. Plus, get the latest astronomy news delivered right to your device. Upgrade to SkyORB Premium and Unlock Even More: Ad-Free Experience: Say goodbye to ads and enjoy uninterrupted stargazing. Enhanced Planetarium: Go full-screen in planetarium mode, unlocking more views. Extended Information: Get more details on moon phases and ephemeris. Comprehensive Search: Unlock the full potential of our search engine. Multi-Device Access: Access your premium features on all your devices connected to your account with iOS cloud storage. And Much More: Enjoy a host of additional premium features. Apple Watch Support: Now you can explore the cosmos right from your wrist with vocal search, digital crown functionality, an equation of time complication, and standalone use. Upgrade and Renewal: The 12-month Premium Membership automatically renews, ensuring uninterrupted access to premium features. Manage your subscription in your iTunes account settings. Step into the world of astronomy with SkyORB. Download it today and embark on your cosmic journey. The universe is waiting
Starry Map
Identify stars, constellations, and satellites by pointing your phone at the night sky. Augmented reality overlays display celestial names in real-time. Receive notifications for upcoming satellite passes and meteor showers.
- AR celestial identification
- Constellation and star catalog
- Satellite tracking and alerts
- Meteor shower notifications
- Offline functionality
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Point your smartphone at the night sky to instantly identify constellations, stars, and satellites. AR overlays show celestial names on the live camera view, and you can swipe to explore any direction. Get alerts for visible ISS passes and meteor showers. Includes: ・88 constellations (with Hevelius illustrations) ・Solar system planets, dwarf planets, asteroids ・Stars up to magnitude 12 ・About 100 Messier objects (nebulae and clusters) ・Over 10,000 satellites ・More than 300 comets ・Meteor showers and asterisms (Summer/Winter Triangle, Big Dipper, etc.) ・Satellite pass alerts (ISS, Hubble) ・Meteor shower peak notifications Works offline (satellite data won't update). Terms of Service https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Starry Map at every 2 weeks against SkyORB Classic Astronomy's every 2 months. Starry Map also leads on ratings volume (246 vs 24) and review sentiment (62% vs 54%). SkyORB Classic Astronomy's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. SkyORB Classic Astronomy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per year and Starry Map sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SkyORB Classic Astronomy against 4.5 for Starry Map. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starry Map has 246 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of SkyORB Classic Astronomy's written reviews are positive against 62% of Starry Map's.
SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, Starry Map every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.
| Parameter | SkyORB Classic Astronomy | Starry Map |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (24 ratings) | 4.5 (246 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 53.8% of reviews | 62.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 24 | 246 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 143 MB | 102 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stephane Denis | にゃんこソフトウェア |
Customer experience
SkyORB Classic Astronomy
Starry Map
User reviews
SkyORB Classic Astronomy
From 24 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🌟 Great app for stargazing
- 🔍 Useful for identifying stars, planets, and constellations
- 📅 Helpful calendar of astronomical events
- 🌍 Accurate representation of the night sky
Room to improve
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🔍 Inaccurate or missing information
- 🔌 Drains battery quickly
Starry Map
From 246 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use and understand
- ✨ Beautiful and visually appealing interface
- 🔭 AR feature for real-time sky viewing
- 🛰️ Useful for tracking satellites (ISS, Starlink)
- 💡 Informative with links to Wikipedia
Room to improve
- 💰 Many features are paid/locked
- 💸 Increased monetization and paid features
- 📉 Some users feel it was better before monetization
- 🤔 Unclear how to use certain features
- 📱 Inconsistent performance across devices/OS versions
Bugs and requests
SkyORB Classic Astronomy
Reported bugs
4 issues- Compass and orientation issues
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Incorrect or outdated celestial data
- Persistent login and subscription problems
Requested features
4 requests- More detailed instructions and tutorials
- Improved search and navigation
- Ability to track comets and asteroids
- Seamless integration with telescopes
Starry Map
Reported bugs
13 issues- App crashes on launch after updates
- Date/time setting resets to 1970
- Black screen upon opening the app
- Ads not disappearing even after purchase
- App closes when selecting specific objects (e.g., Comet Neowise)
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- Location accuracy issues
- App closes after update
- App not working on older iOS versions
- Data connection not allowed error
- AR view constantly spinning
- ISS and Starlink not displaying after update
- App crashes when switching night mode
- App crashes when selecting NEOWISE comet
Requested features
8 requests- Reflect weather and light pollution in star visibility
- Include stories/episodes related to constellations
- Separate 1st to 3rd magnitude stars in display options
- Simplify solar system display for beginners
- Option to hide background stars or make them less prominent
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- Add comet Atlas to the catalog
- More user-friendly tutorials on usage
- Search functionality for star names
In-app purchases
SkyORB Classic Astronomy
- 1-year Premium Subscription$1.991 Year
- Premium Version$3.99
Starry Map
- Unlock Features2 variants$0.991 Month
- Unlock Features7 Days trial2 variants$0.991 Month
- Unlock Features$3.991 Year
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- Unlock Features7 Days trial$3.991 Year
- Unlock Features (Lifetime)$9.99
Questions
Is SkyORB Classic Astronomy free?
Is Starry Map free?
Which has better reviews, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or Starry Map?
Do SkyORB Classic Astronomy or Starry Map have ads?
Which is updated more often, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or Starry Map?
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