# SkyView® Lite vs Star Map

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SkyView® Lite at 65% against Star Map's 20%. SkyView® Lite also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.2) and ratings volume (19K vs 6). Star Map's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SkyView® Lite sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Star Map asks for nothing beyond the download.

SkyView® Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SkyView® Lite has 19K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of SkyView® Lite's written reviews are positive against 20% of Star Map's.

SkyView® Lite ships an update every 2 months, Star Map every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyView® Lite | Star Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyview-lite/id413936865/reviews)** | [2.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-map-explore-the-sky/id1431654092/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **64.6% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#47** | — |
| Size | 122 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Terminal Eleven LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/378238417) | [GUANGDONG WORDWORLD SCIENCE & EDUCATION CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1807328987) |

## What reviewers say

### SkyView® Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyview-lite/id413936865)

**Currently charting:** #47 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Identify stars, constellations, satellites, and more by simply pointing your device at the sky. This augmented reality app makes stargazing accessible to everyone, day or night. Explore celestial paths and even travel through time to view the sky on different dates.

**Highlights:** Identify stars, constellations, and satellites, Augmented Reality (AR) stargazing, Set reminders for celestial events, View sky paths for Sun and Moon, Time travel to view past/future skies, Capture and share sky images

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stargazing Music Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Brightest Satellites & Sightings | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Accurate star and planet tracking
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🔭 Helpful for learning about the night sky
- 💫 Engaging and educational for all ages
- 🌌 Realistic AR display of celestial objects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compass/location issues causing inaccurate positioning
- 🔍 Limited free features, many paid upgrades
- 🤔 Confusing for some users to understand how it works
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes on some devices
- Outdated information on certain celestial objects
- Compatibility issues with older iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add more celestial objects like satellites, comets, and nebulae
- Improve compass calibration and location accuracy
- Provide more detailed information and facts about stars/planets
- Integrate with virtual reality for immersive stargazing experience
- Add reminders for upcoming astronomical events


### Star Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-map-explore-the-sky/id1431654092)

Explore the night sky with this stargazing app. Point your device to the sky to identify thousands of stars, planets, constellations, and more. It uses your device's sensors and GPS to provide an accurate celestial view.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality sky view, Identify stars, planets, and constellations, Uses device sensors and GPS, Explore thousands of celestial objects, Track ISS and satellites

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SkyView® Lite free?

SkyView® Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Star Map free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SkyView® Lite or Star Map?

SkyView® Lite is rated higher. SkyView® Lite averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Star Map averages 2.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do SkyView® Lite or Star Map have ads?

SkyView® Lite shows ads; Star Map does not.

### Which is updated more often, SkyView® Lite or Star Map?

SkyView® Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Star Map every 3 days. Most recently, SkyView® Lite was updated on September 26, 2026 and Star Map on June 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.*