# SkyORB Classic Astronomy vs Celestia

The clearest difference is ads: Celestia at none against SkyORB Classic Astronomy's shown. Celestia also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 54%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Celestia sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. 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 4.4 for Celestia. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Celestia has 339 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 79% of Celestia's.

SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, Celestia fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyORB Classic Astronomy | Celestia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358/reviews)** | [4.4 (339 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **339** |
| Positive reviews | 53.8% of reviews | **78.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 143 MB | 550 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stephane Denis](https://appshunter.io/developer/295455703) | [林峰 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1186547508) |

## 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


### Celestia

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestia-space-simulator/id1500434829)

Explore the universe in real-time 3D. Visit planets, moons, star clusters, and galaxies, viewing them from any point in space and time. Customize your experience with expandable content and detailed simulations.

**Highlights:** Real-time 3D space visualization, Explore planets, moons, stars, galaxies, Accurate solar system object positions, Interactive planetarium mode, Expandable content with add-ons, Customizable celestial databases

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Celestia PLUS (Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Celestia PLUS (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Celestia PLUS (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Celestia PLUS (Lifetime) | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Realistic space simulation
- 🌌 Ability to explore galaxies and star systems
- 🔍 Detailed planet and moon textures
- 📷 Great for taking screenshots
- 🤖 Reminds users of Space Engine

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🌌 Limited exploration beyond Milky Way and Andromeda
- 🌍 Flat terrain on planets
- 🔍 Lack of detail on some celestial objects
- 🔒 Paywall for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Milky Way and other galaxy textures not loading properly
- Crashes when using certain add-ons
- Issues with planet and moon orbits not being accurate

**Requested features**

- Add more exoplanets and distant star systems
- Implement terrain generation for planets
- Expand to include more galaxies and the overall universe structure
- Add support for black holes, pulsars, and other exotic objects
- Improve controls and camera movement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SkyORB Classic Astronomy free?

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

### Is Celestia free?

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

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

SkyORB Classic Astronomy is rated higher. SkyORB Classic Astronomy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Celestia averages 4.4 from 339 ratings.

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

SkyORB Classic Astronomy shows ads; Celestia does not.

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

SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, and Celestia fortnightly. Most recently, SkyORB Classic Astronomy was updated on October 23, 2026 and Celestia on October 29, 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.*