# Star Chart vs Stellarium Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: Stellarium Mobile at 4.8 against Star Chart's 4.6. Stellarium Mobile also leads on chart position (#126 vs unranked). Star Chart's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 17). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Star Chart sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Stellarium Mobile sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Stellarium Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25K and 37K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Star Chart's written reviews are positive against 84% of Stellarium Mobile's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Star Chart ships an update fortnightly, Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Chart | Stellarium Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-chart/id345542655/reviews) | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 25K | **37K** |
| Positive reviews | **85.0% of reviews** | 83.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#126** |
| Size | 28 MB | 456 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 17 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ESCAPE VELOCITY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/331526972) | [Noctua Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/629435881) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Chart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-chart/id345542655)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Comets | $2.99 | one-time |
| Meteor Showers | $4.99 | one-time |
| Extended Solar System | $4.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Constellations | $4.99 | one-time |
| Satellites | $4.99 | one-time |
| Extended Star Catalog | $9.99 | one-time |
| Enhanced Messier Catalog | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Stellarium Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890)

**Currently charting:** #126 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Explore the night sky with a real-time planetarium. Identify stars, planets, constellations, and satellites by simply pointing your phone. Offers detailed astronomical data and cultural constellation interpretations.

**Highlights:** Real-time sky simulation, Identify stars, planets, satellites, Constellation shapes and illustrations, Deep sky object catalog, Night mode for eye comfort, Telescope control (Plus)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stellarium PLUS | $1.99 | per month |
| Stellarium PLUS | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Fabulous star tracking
- 🌌 Detailed night sky information
- 🔭 Helpful for stargazing and astronomy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🌍 Accurate for different locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding some objects
- 🌓 Inaccurate moon/planet positions in daylight
- 🔧 Calibration issues with compass
- 💰 Paid version may not justify the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Compass not working properly
- Favorites list disappearing
- Inconsistent performance on different devices

**Requested features**

- Notifications for astronomical events
- More customization options
- Integration with camera for AR overlay
- Better support for telescopes and mounts
- Improved search and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Star Chart free?

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

### Is Stellarium Mobile free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Star Chart or Stellarium Mobile?

Stellarium Mobile is rated higher. Star Chart averages 4.6 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while Stellarium Mobile averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.

### Do Star Chart or Stellarium Mobile have ads?

Neither Star Chart nor Stellarium Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Star Chart or Stellarium Mobile?

Star Chart ships an update fortnightly, and Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Most recently, Star Chart was updated on September 25, 2026 and Stellarium Mobile on September 25, 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.*