Comparison

SkyORB Classic Astronomy vs Starry Map

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • AR celestial identification
  • Constellation and star catalog
  • Satellite tracking and alerts
  • Meteor shower notifications
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

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

SkyORB Classic Astronomy4 screens
Starry Map4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, Starry Map every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SkyORB Classic Astronomy versus Starry Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkyORB Classic AstronomyStarry Map
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (24 ratings)4.5 (246 ratings)
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews62.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings24246 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size143 MB102 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStephane Denisにゃんこソフトウェア

Customer experience

SkyORB Classic Astronomy

All ratings24 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews299 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral15.4%
Negative30.8%

Starry Map

All ratings246 ratings
Positive87.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews125 reviews
Positive62.4%
Neutral6.4%
Negative31.2%

User reviews

SkyORB Classic Astronomy

From 24 App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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)
Show 8 more
  • 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
Show 3 more
  • Add comet Atlas to the catalog
  • More user-friendly tutorials on usage
  • Search functionality for star names

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SkyORB Classic Astronomy

Subscriptions1
  • 1-year Premium Subscription$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Version$3.99
5 purchases

Starry Map

Subscriptions4
  • Unlock Features2 variants$0.991 Month
  • Unlock Features7 Days trial2 variants$0.991 Month
  • Unlock Features$3.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Unlock Features7 Days trial$3.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock Features (Lifetime)$9.99

Questions

Is SkyORB Classic Astronomy free?
SkyORB Classic Astronomy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Starry Map free?
Starry Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or Starry Map?
SkyORB Classic Astronomy and Starry Map are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 24 and 246 ratings respectively.
Do SkyORB Classic Astronomy or Starry Map have ads?
Both SkyORB Classic Astronomy and Starry Map show ads.
Which is updated more often, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or Starry Map?
SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, and Starry Map every 2 weeks. Most recently, SkyORB Classic Astronomy was updated on October 17, 2026 and Starry Map on October 17, 2026.

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