SkyORB Classic Astronomy vs xSky
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
xSky
Explore the cosmos with a virtual telescope. Point your device at the sky to identify celestial bodies. Zoom in for detailed views and use a search function to locate specific objects.
- Virtual telescope functionality
- Identify Sun, Moon, Planets, Stars, Galaxies
- Zoom up to a million times
- Screen lock to stop motion
- Object search arrow
- Soft music and sound effects
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xSky is a simple to use virtual telescope app. Just look at the sky through your device. Lock the screen and zoom in to explore in more detail. Features: • Sun, Moon, Planets, Galilean Moons, Stars, Constellations and Galaxies. • Pinch the screen to zoom up to a million times. • Use lock button to stop motions. • Search arrow will help to locate any object in the sky. • Soft music and sound effects.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: xSky at none against SkyORB Classic Astronomy's 2. xSky also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (79% vs 54%). SkyORB Classic Astronomy's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence and iOS requirement 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. xSky asks for nothing beyond the download.
SkyORB Classic Astronomy holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 80 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of SkyORB Classic Astronomy's written reviews are positive against 79% of xSky's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, xSky every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.
| Parameter | SkyORB Classic Astronomy | xSky |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (24 ratings) — better | 4.3 (80 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 53.8% of reviews | 79.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 24 | 80 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 143 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Stephane Denis | Oleg Sur |
Customer experience
SkyORB Classic Astronomy
xSky
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
xSky
From 80 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🔭 Realistic space simulation
- ✨ Beautiful visuals and music
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 💡 Great for learning astronomy
- 💯 Highly accurate object identification
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashing issues
- 🧭 Location services not working
- 🔄 Inconsistent with reality (out of sync)
- 📱 Not optimized for all devices (e.g., iPhone 12)
- 🎛️ Hard to control
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
xSky
Reported bugs
9 issues- App keeps crashing
- Location services not working/picking a country
- App closes immediately upon opening
- App is glitchy and moves by itself
- Search button not working in horizontal position
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- App not working on iPhone 12
- App out of sync with reality
- Sun located incorrectly at noon
- Mercury in retrograde causing app to not open
Requested features
9 requests- Camera feature for high-quality photos
- Ability to turn down exposure for photos
- Facts read aloud about celestial objects
- Traditional constellation names (e.g., Virgo, Taurus)
- Show International Space Station or other satellites
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- Option to turn off constellation lines
- Improve search button size and usability
- Fix search button in horizontal mode
- More mythological graphics and information about stars
In-app purchases
SkyORB Classic Astronomy
- 1-year Premium Subscription$1.991 Year
- Premium Version$3.99
xSky
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SkyORB Classic Astronomy free?
Is xSky free?
Which has better reviews, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or xSky?
Do SkyORB Classic Astronomy or xSky have ads?
Which is updated more often, SkyORB Classic Astronomy or xSky?
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