# SkyORB Classic Astronomy vs GlobeViewer

The clearest difference is rating: SkyORB Classic Astronomy at 4.5 against GlobeViewer's 3.4. SkyORB Classic Astronomy also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 33%) and ratings volume (23 vs 5). GlobeViewer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, 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 GlobeViewer sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SkyORB Classic Astronomy holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of SkyORB Classic Astronomy's written reviews are positive against 33% of GlobeViewer's.

SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, GlobeViewer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 16, 2026 and August 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyORB Classic Astronomy | GlobeViewer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358/reviews)** | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/globeviewer/id1394087613/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **23** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **52.3% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 236 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stephane Denis](https://appshunter.io/developer/295455703) | [RAB-Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/543575684) |

## 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

**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


### GlobeViewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/globeviewer/id1394087613)

Explore Earth with a high-resolution 3D globe and topography maps. View surface, underwater, and topographical details, with real-time event overlays. Access extensive geographical data for offline use.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D globe, High-resolution topography maps, Surface and underwater views, Real-time event overlays, Offline data caching, Extensive place names and geographical features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 4K & Polar Regions | $0.99 | one-time |
| 4K & South America | $2.99 | one-time |
| 4K & Pacific | $2.99 | one-time |
| 4K & Japan/Korea/Taiwan | $2.99 | one-time |
| 8K & North America | $4.99 | one-time |
| 8K & Australia | $4.99 | one-time |
| 8K & China | $4.99 | one-time |
| 8K & Russia | $4.99 | one-time |
| 8K & Europe | $4.99 | one-time |
| 8K Pass | $8.99 | one-time |
| Professional Version | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SkyORB Classic Astronomy free?

SkyORB Classic Astronomy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GlobeViewer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or GlobeViewer?

SkyORB Classic Astronomy is rated higher. SkyORB Classic Astronomy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while GlobeViewer averages 3.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do SkyORB Classic Astronomy or GlobeViewer have ads?

Both SkyORB Classic Astronomy and GlobeViewer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or GlobeViewer?

SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, and GlobeViewer every 6 weeks. Most recently, SkyORB Classic Astronomy was updated on August 16, 2026 and GlobeViewer on August 14, 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.*