# SkyORB Classic Astronomy vs xSky

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyORB Classic Astronomy | xSky |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyorb-classic-astronomy/id338051358/reviews)** | [4.3 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xsky/id850941042/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **80** |
| Positive reviews | 53.8% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 143 MB | 60 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) | [Oleg Sur](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454732575) |

## 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


### xSky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xsky/id850941042)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔭 Realistic space simulation
- ✨ Beautiful visuals and music
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 💡 Great for learning astronomy
- 💯 Highly accurate object identification

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SkyORB Classic Astronomy free?

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

### Is xSky free?

xSky is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

SkyORB Classic Astronomy is rated higher. SkyORB Classic Astronomy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while xSky averages 4.3 from 80 ratings.

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

SkyORB Classic Astronomy shows ads; xSky does not.

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

SkyORB Classic Astronomy ships an update every 2 months, and xSky every 3 months. Most recently, SkyORB Classic Astronomy was updated on November 1, 2026 and xSky on November 1, 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.*