# StarTracker vs Celestron StarSense Explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: StarTracker at 83% against Celestron StarSense Explorer's 35%. StarTracker also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.3) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 18.6). Celestron StarSense Explorer's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Celestron StarSense Explorer is free to download; StarTracker costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

StarTracker holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 158 and 165 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of StarTracker's written reviews are positive against 35% of Celestron StarSense Explorer's.

StarTracker ships an update every 12 months, Celestron StarSense Explorer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarTracker | Celestron StarSense Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (158 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startracker-mobile-skymap/id439581967/reviews)** | [3.3 (165 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestron-starsense-explorer/id1368600689/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 158 | **165** |
| Positive reviews | **82.6% of reviews** | 35.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 741 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [身吉 潘](https://appshunter.io/developer/341563645) | [Celestron, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/445142854) |

## What reviewers say

### StarTracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startracker-mobile-skymap/id439581967)

Explore the night sky in real-time by pointing your device at the stars. Identify celestial bodies, constellations, and deep sky objects with augmented reality and offline data. Adjust time and date to see how the sky changes.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality star gazing, Identify planets, stars, and constellations, Offline celestial data, Search and lock celestial objects, Time Machine for sky simulation, Share screenshots of the sky

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🎯 Accurate star and constellation identification
- ✨ Beautiful graphics and visual design
- 📱 Works offline without internet connection
- 🔍 Helpful for learning astronomy and constellations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🧭 Compass calibration issues and inaccuracy
- 🐛 Graphics spinning or displaying incorrectly
- 📞 No developer support or contact options
- 🔄 App not updated for newer iOS versions
- 📱 Display issues on newer phone models (iPhone XR, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Compass doesn't point in correct direction
- App crashes on iOS 6 and older versions
- Graphics spin aimlessly without user input
- Calibration fails repeatedly
- Display cutoff on newer iPhone models

**Requested features**

- Augmented reality capability
- Search function for objects by typing
- Star and object information details (size, mass, distance, composition)
- Ability to disable auto-zoom feature
- Lock screen to prevent continuous compass tracking


### Celestron StarSense Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestron-starsense-explorer/id1368600689)

This app guides you through the night sky using your smartphone and a compatible telescope. It identifies celestial objects and directs your telescope for optimal viewing, making astronomy accessible for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

**Highlights:** Smartphone-guided stargazing, Real-time telescope positioning, Sky recognition technology, Celestial object database, Tonight's Best observing list, Detailed object information and audio

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Accurate plate-solving technology for locating celestial objects
- 📚 Comprehensive database with detailed information about objects
- 🎧 Informative audio commentary during observations
- 🔭 Seamless integration with Celestron StarSense telescopes
- 👨‍🚀 Excellent for beginners to learn astronomy

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🧭 Persistent compass/directional calibration issues
- 📍 Frequent alignment failures and position detection problems
- 🔄 Requires constant realignment after minor telescope movements
- ❌ Inconsistent accuracy across different iPhone models
- ⏱️ Slow plate-solving on nights with full moon or light pollution

**Reported bugs**

- Directional orientation reversed or offset by 90+ degrees
- App fails to locate telescope position on clear nights
- Compass defaults to west direction on startup
- Plate-solving fails to recognize sky position
- App crashes when switching between apps or receiving notifications

**Requested features**

- Multi-language support (Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic, French, Italian, German)
- Observation logging and favorites/bookmarks system
- Support for additional celestial objects (dwarf planets, comets)
- Pan and zoom functionality without moving telescope
- Standalone app functionality without telescope requirement


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarTracker free?

StarTracker costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Celestron StarSense Explorer free?

Celestron StarSense Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, StarTracker or Celestron StarSense Explorer?

StarTracker is rated higher. StarTracker averages 4.7 out of 5 from 158 ratings, while Celestron StarSense Explorer averages 3.3 from 165 ratings.

### Do StarTracker or Celestron StarSense Explorer have ads?

Neither StarTracker nor Celestron StarSense Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StarTracker or Celestron StarSense Explorer?

StarTracker ships an update every 12 months, and Celestron StarSense Explorer every 2 months. Most recently, StarTracker was updated on October 17, 2026 and Celestron StarSense Explorer on October 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*