# Luminos vs SkySafari 8 Pro

The clearest difference is price: Luminos at $19.99 against SkySafari 8 Pro's $34.99. Luminos also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 50%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). SkySafari 8 Pro's advantage is chart position (#45 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Luminos costs $19.99 and SkySafari 8 Pro $34.99 up front. SkySafari 8 Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 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 8 Pro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 808 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Luminos's written reviews are positive against 50% of SkySafari 8 Pro's.

Luminos ships an update every 2 weeks, SkySafari 8 Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Luminos | SkySafari 8 Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$19.99** | $34.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminos/id404664336/reviews)** | [4.7 (808 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari-8-pro/id6752672420/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 808 |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#45** |
| Size | 930 MB | 2.4 GB |
| 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 8 Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skysafari-8-pro/id6752672420)

**Currently charting:** #45 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

This advanced astronomy app provides a comprehensive database for identifying celestial objects and planning observations. It offers telescope control, augmented reality, and tools for simulating the night sky through time.

**Highlights:** Extensive astronomical database, Telescope and camera control, Augmented reality sky view, Time travel simulation, Event finder, Image import and basic editing, Night vision mode

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SkySafari Premium Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| SkySafari Premium | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Luminos free?

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

### Is SkySafari 8 Pro free?

SkySafari 8 Pro costs $34.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Luminos or SkySafari 8 Pro?

Luminos is rated higher. Luminos averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while SkySafari 8 Pro averages 4.7 from 808 ratings.

### Do Luminos or SkySafari 8 Pro have ads?

Neither Luminos nor SkySafari 8 Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Luminos or SkySafari 8 Pro?

Luminos ships an update every 2 weeks, and SkySafari 8 Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Luminos was updated on November 10, 2026 and SkySafari 8 Pro on November 8, 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.*