# SkyORB Classic Astronomy vs Starry Map

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyORB Classic Astronomy | Starry Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358/reviews) | [4.5 (246 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starry-map/id1176591850/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **246** |
| Positive reviews | 53.8% of reviews | **62.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stephane Denis](https://appshunter.io/developer/295455703) | [にゃんこソフトウェア](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843663669) |

## What reviewers say

### SkyORB Classic Astronomy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358)

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:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-year Premium Subscription | $1.99 | per year |
| Premium Version | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Great app for stargazing
- 🔍 Useful for identifying stars, planets, and constellations
- 📅 Helpful calendar of astronomical events
- 🌍 Accurate representation of the night sky

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive interface
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🔍 Inaccurate or missing information
- 🔌 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Compass and orientation issues
- Inconsistent behavior across devices
- Incorrect or outdated celestial data
- Persistent login and subscription problems

**Requested features**

- More detailed instructions and tutorials
- Improved search and navigation
- Ability to track comets and asteroids
- Seamless integration with telescopes


### Starry Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starry-map/id1176591850)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Features | $0.99 | per month |
| Unlock Features | $0.99 | per month |
| Unlock Features | $3.99 | per year |
| Unlock Features | $3.99 | per year |
| Unlock Features (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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)

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*