Comparison

Star Chart vs Star Walk 2 Plus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Star Chart

Explore the cosmos with this augmented reality astronomy app. Point your device at the sky to identify stars, planets, and constellations in real-time. Discover celestial bodies and their positions, even traveling through time to view the universe's past and future.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality sky identification
  • 3D simulation of the visible universe
  • Real-time celestial object tracking
  • Time shift to view past/future sky
  • Explore planets, moons, and sun
  • View constellations and deep sky objects
  • Detailed object information
Features
Read full description

*** Star Chart is now FREE! *** The top educational & augmented reality astronomy app - download and find out why over 20 million people use Star Chart! You can now have a virtual star chart in your pocket. Look through the eyes of your iPhone or iPad* to see a high-tech window into the whole visible universe. All you have to do is point your AR enabled device* at the sky and Star Chart will tell you exactly what you are looking at. Using state of the art GPS technology, an accurate 3D simulation of the visible universe, and a great deal of technical wizardry, Star Chart calculates – in real time - the current location of every star, planet and moon visible from Earth and shows you precisely where they are; even in broad daylight! Want to know what that bright star is called? Point your device* at it – you might just find out it’s a planet! Want to know what the night sky looks like to people on the other side of the earth? Well just point your device down! Want to know where your star sign is in the sky? Star Chart will tell you all this and more. Star Charts features include: - Just point and view. When you hold your device up to the sky, Star Chart will automatically start tracking your movements to match the sky *. - Alternatively, look around the sky using finger gestures – perfect for armchair astronomers! - In a single app of less than 30MB, Star Chart dynamically scales its visuals and capabilities across all iOS devices to meet the high end capabilities of a retina display iPad while also running smoothly on the earliest iPhones and iPods. - Accurately depicts all the visible stars of the northern and southern hemispheres - a total of approximately 120,000 stars! - Fly to and explore all the planets of the solar system, their moons and the sun all rendered in beautiful 3D with state of the art visual effects. - Using the powerful Time Shift feature, simply tap the time button and smoothly shift up to 10,000 years forward or backward in time. - Displays all 88 constellations, with constellation imagery based on the beautiful artwork by 17th century astronomer Johannes Hevelius. - Includes the complete Messier catalogue of 110 exotic deep sky objects. - Tap on anything in the sky and get the facts on what you are looking at, including distance and brightness. - Very powerful zoom function, lets you view the sky in extra detail, using intuitive finger gestures. - Fully configurable. Star Chart displays only the sky objects that you are interested in. - Allows you to view the sky underneath the horizon. So now you can see where the sun is, even at night! - Manually set your location to find out what the sky looks like from anywhere in the world. - Supports dynamic device orientation viewing. Allows you to view the night sky whilst holding your iPhone/iPad* at any angle. So point your iPhone/iPad* at the sky and see what's out there! ------------ * Augmented Reality mode is available on devices that include a built-in compass. Manual scrolling is supported on all other devices. ------------ Star Chart is published by Escape Velocity Ltd and developed by Escapist Games Ltd. We update Star Chart regularly, so please send us your feedback and feature requests to starchart@escapistgames.com. And thanks for all your feedback so far! Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/starchart Follow Star Chart on Twitter: StarChartApp

About

Star Walk 2 Plus

Explore the cosmos with a real-time sky map. Point your device to identify stars, planets, and constellations. Discover celestial events and learn about the universe with detailed information and 3D models.

Highlights
  • Real-time sky map
  • 3D constellation models
  • Time machine feature
  • Deep sky object identification
  • Augmented reality mode
  • Celestial event tracking
Features
Read full description

Star Walk 2 Plus is an exquisite stargazing app that enables you to explore the sky through the screen of your device. Make an effortless journey through thousands of stars, planets and constellations. All you have to do is point your device to the sky! ⁕BEST OF 2014: The next generation of the best-selling Star Walk, winner of Apple Design Award, used by over 10 million people⁕ The app uses your device’s sensors and the GPS to determine the exact position of stars, planets, constellations and other objects in the sky. “She’s a beauty.”- The Next Web “Star Walk 2 is a terrific introduction to astronomy for young and old. It’s also handy for serious stargazers for observing planning.” - TUAW “Star Walk 2 is visually stunning.” - PCmag “This is a very beautiful and unusual application that turns your phone into a real planetarium.” - Free apps for me “For those who enjoy the original app, Star Walk 2 is worth the upgrade — the interface is gorgeous. Anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy should grab Star Walk 2.” - iLounge “It is worth every penny.” - PadGadget Star Walk 2 Plus in travel & tourism industry: ‘Rapa Nui Stargazing’ based on Easter Island uses the app for sky observations during its astronomical tours. ‘Nakai Resorts Group’ in the Maldives uses the app during astronomy meetings. Main features: ◆ Map of the sky in real time ◆ 3D models of constellations and other sky objects ◆ “Time machine” ◆ Deep sky objects ◆ Rich info about celestial bodies and sky events ◆ The sky at different wavelengths ◆ Augmented reality mode ◆ "What's new" section with the latest astronomical news ◆ "Visible Tonight" section ► Star Walk 2 Plus shows the real-time map of the sky on your screen in whatever direction you are pointing the device (the Star spotter feature). As you point your device towards the sky, the star map follows your motions using the built-in gyroscope to match the map on your screen to the stars seen from your location. ► What's up in the sky tonight? Open the "Visible Tonight" section and learn about the upcoming astronomical events and celestial objects that will be visible from your location. ► Be aware of the latest news from the world of space and astronomy. The app's "What's new" section will tell you about the most outstanding celestial events in time. ► Create shortcuts to take your stargazing experience to a whole new level. Go to the "Visible Tonight" section and add the shortcut to Siri. Next time when you want to access the list of astronomy events for your location, ask Siri and get it quicker than ever. ► Touching a clock-face icon at the upper-right corner of the screen allows you to select any date and time and watch the sky of different periods. ► Get a deeper understanding of the constellation`s scale and place in the night sky. Enjoy observing wonderful 3D models of constellations, turn them upside down, read their stories. ► Find and study deep sky objects such as meteor showers, planetary nebulae, star clusters, etc. The app is ad-supported and contains In-App Purchases. If you want to use the app without ads, download the paid Star Walk 2 app or remove ads from Star Walk 2 Plus with a special In-App Purchase. Star Walk 2 Plus offers an optional subscription that gives you access to all additional content and removes ads from the app. It is an auto-renewable subscription with one week free trial. At the end of each subscription duration (1 month), the subscription will automatically renew until you choose to cancel it. Users can manage their subscriptions in their account settings on the App Store. Privacy policy: http://vitotechnology.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of use: http://vitotechnology.com/terms-of-use.html Start your best stargazing experience!

Screenshots

Star Chart4 screens
Star Walk 2 Plus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Star Chart at none against Star Walk 2 Plus's shown. Star Chart also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (85% vs 70%). Star Walk 2 Plus's advantage is ratings volume (96K vs 25K). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Star Chart sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Star Walk 2 Plus sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Star Chart against 4.6 for Star Walk 2 Plus. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25K and 96K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Star Chart's written reviews are positive against 70% of Star Walk 2 Plus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Star Chart ships an update fortnightly, Star Walk 2 Plus every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Star Chart versus Star Walk 2 Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStar ChartStar Walk 2 Plus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (25K ratings)4.6 (96K ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.0% of reviews — better70.1% of reviews
Number of ratings25K96K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB373 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperESCAPE VELOCITY LIMITEDVito Technology Inc.

Customer experience

Star Chart

All ratings24,838 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.2%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews1,948 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral5.2%
Negative9.8%

Star Walk 2 Plus

All ratings94,916 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.7%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews706 reviews
Positive70.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative25.4%

User reviews

Star Chart

From 25K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💫 Impressive visuals
  • 🌌 Comprehensive celestial information
  • 🔍 Helpful for learning constellations
  • 🌍 Accurate location tracking
  • 🌠 Enjoyable stargazing experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • ⚠️ Outdated and unsupported
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🗺️ Inaccurate mapping and calibration
  • 🔍 Missing key celestial objects

Star Walk 2 Plus

From 96K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Informative and educational
  • 🔭 Accurate star/planet tracking
  • 🎨 Beautiful visuals and graphics
  • 🔊 Relaxing background music
  • 🌍 Useful for stargazing and astronomy

Room to improve

  • 💢 Excessive and intrusive ads in free version
  • 🤔 Confusing navigation and controls
  • 🧭 Inaccurate compass and location tracking
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases required for full features
  • 🔄 Frequent app crashes and freezes

Bugs and requests

Star Chart

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Purchased upgrades not working
  • Incorrect positioning of celestial objects
  • GPS location not detected properly
  • Scrolling and navigation issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Update app with latest celestial objects
  • Improve stability and reduce crashes
  • Offer more affordable in-app purchases
  • Enhance mapping and calibration accuracy
  • Add search functionality for specific stars/planets

Star Walk 2 Plus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Compass and location tracking issues
  • Crashes and freezes when using certain features
  • Purchased upgrades not syncing across devices
  • Notifications not working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more detailed information about stars and constellations
  • Improve widget functionality and visibility of planets/satellites
  • Implement a dark mode for better visibility at night
  • Allow customization of the display and overlay options
  • Enhance the augmented reality experience

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Star Chart

One-time7
  • Comets$2.99
  • Meteor Showers$4.99
  • Extended Solar System$4.99
Show 4 more
  • Enhanced Constellations$4.99
  • Satellites$4.99
  • Extended Star Catalog$9.99
  • Enhanced Messier Catalog$9.99
9 purchases

Star Walk 2 Plus

Subscriptions4
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Monthly Premium7 Days trial2 variants$0.991 Month
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Monthly Premium$0.991 Month
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium7 Days trial$5.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • StarWalk2 Ads+ Yearly Premium$5.991 Year
One-time5
  • Discover Solar System Objects$0.99
  • Satellite Tracker in the Sky$0.99
  • Night Sky View: without Ads$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Night Sky Map: Limited Offer$5.99
  • Night Sky View: No Ads$8.99

Questions

Is Star Chart free?
Star Chart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Star Walk 2 Plus free?
Star Walk 2 Plus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Star Chart or Star Walk 2 Plus?
Star Walk 2 Plus is rated higher. Star Chart averages 4.6 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while Star Walk 2 Plus averages 4.6 from 96K ratings.
Do Star Chart or Star Walk 2 Plus have ads?
Star Walk 2 Plus shows ads; Star Chart does not.
Which is updated more often, Star Chart or Star Walk 2 Plus?
Star Chart ships an update fortnightly, and Star Walk 2 Plus every 6 weeks. Most recently, Star Chart was updated on November 4, 2026 and Star Walk 2 Plus on November 4, 2026.

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