# SkyView® Lite vs Stellarium Mobile

The clearest difference is ads: Stellarium Mobile at none against SkyView® Lite's shown. Stellarium Mobile also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (84% vs 65%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SkyView® Lite sells 2 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 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19K and 37K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of SkyView® Lite's written reviews are positive against 84% of Stellarium Mobile's.

SkyView® Lite ships an update every 2 months, Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SkyView® Lite | Stellarium Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyview-lite/id413936865/reviews) | **[4.8 (37K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19K | **37K** |
| Positive reviews | 64.6% of reviews | **83.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#136** | #140 |
| Size | 122 MB | 456 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Terminal Eleven LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/378238417) | [Noctua Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/629435881) |

## What reviewers say

### SkyView® Lite

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

**Currently charting:** #136 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


### Stellarium Mobile

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

**Currently charting:** #140 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 SkyView® Lite free?

SkyView® Lite 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, SkyView® Lite or Stellarium Mobile?

Stellarium Mobile is rated higher. SkyView® Lite averages 4.5 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Stellarium Mobile averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.

### Do SkyView® Lite or Stellarium Mobile have ads?

SkyView® Lite shows ads; Stellarium Mobile does not.

### Which is updated more often, SkyView® Lite or Stellarium Mobile?

SkyView® Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Most recently, SkyView® Lite was updated on September 24, 2026 and Stellarium Mobile on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, SkyView® Lite or Stellarium Mobile?

SkyView® Lite currently peaks at #136 in the App Store charts, and Stellarium Mobile at #140. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*