# Luminos vs SkySafari

The clearest difference is price: SkySafari at $0.99 against Luminos's $19.99. SkySafari also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 1.1K) and chart position (#10 vs unranked). Luminos's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (91% vs 64%). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Luminos costs $19.99 and SkySafari $0.99 up front. SkySafari sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Luminos asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Luminos against 4.7 for SkySafari. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SkySafari has 18K ratings behind it against 1.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Luminos's written reviews are positive against 64% of SkySafari's.

Luminos ships an update every 2 weeks, SkySafari monthly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Luminos | SkySafari |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **$0.99** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminos/id404664336/reviews)** | [4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari/id1257281849/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 63.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#10** |
| Size | 930 MB | 859 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wobbleworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/404664339) | [Simulation Curriculum Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/791341744) |

## What reviewers say

### Luminos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminos/id404664336)

This astronomy companion app, after 12 years of updates, is being retired. A more advanced version, Luminos Pro, is available with new features and ongoing support. This version remains accessible for existing users.

**Highlights:** Astronomy software, 12 years of updates, Retired version, Advanced version available (Luminos Pro), Continued support for existing customers

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent astronomy app
- 🔭 Comprehensive features and information
- 🌌 Beautiful and intuitive interface
- 🔍 Helpful for both beginners and advanced users
- 🌍 Accurate tracking of celestial objects and satellites

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔧 Difficulty configuring for use with telescopes
- 🔒 Concerns about subscription model changes
- 🔍 Steep learning curve for some features
- 🔍 Lack of instructions or user guide

**Reported bugs**

- Motion tracking and compass not working properly
- Saved telescope settings erased after updates
- Slow response times and location detection issues
- Inconsistent behavior when tapping on objects

**Requested features**

- Add historical constellations
- Integrate national borders when searching
- Include exoplanets information
- Improve motion tracking and orientation
- Add observation forecast based on weather conditions


### SkySafari

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari/id1257281849)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

This powerful pocket planetarium helps you explore the night sky. Identify celestial objects by pointing your device, view astrophotography, and plan your stargazing with real-time visibility information. Offers guided tours and pronunciation guides for a comprehensive learning experience.

**Highlights:** Point and identify stars, planets, and constellations, Explore astrophotography in the Image Gallery, View real-time sky visibility in 'Sky Tonight', Simulate the sky across time and locations, Access guided audio tours and pronunciation guides, Night Vision mode for dark observation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SkySafari Premium | $3.99 | per month |
| SkySafari Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Apollo Lunar Missions | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly
- 🚀 Accurate sky mapping
- 🌌 Detailed information on celestial objects
- 💡 Helpful for stargazing and astronomy
- 🔭 Useful for telescope owners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🤑 Excessive upselling and in-app purchases
- 🤯 Confusing version and feature differences
- 🙄 Intrusive notifications and sounds
- 🤔 Difficult to use some features

**Reported bugs**

- Compass not working correctly
- Disappearing or missing objects
- Time travel feature issues
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to hide toolbar and UI elements
- More customization options
- Improved telescope integration
- Better comet and new object tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Luminos free?

Luminos costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SkySafari free?

SkySafari costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Luminos or SkySafari?

Luminos is rated higher. Luminos averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while SkySafari averages 4.7 from 18K ratings.

### Do Luminos or SkySafari have ads?

Neither Luminos nor SkySafari shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Luminos or SkySafari?

Luminos ships an update every 2 weeks, and SkySafari monthly. Most recently, Luminos was updated on September 25, 2026 and SkySafari 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.*