# StarTracker vs Sky Tonight

The clearest difference is price: Sky Tonight at Free against StarTracker's $2.99. Sky Tonight also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (76K vs 159). StarTracker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Sky Tonight is free to download; StarTracker costs $2.99 up front. Sky Tonight sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. StarTracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for StarTracker against 4.8 for Sky Tonight. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sky Tonight has 76K ratings behind it against 159, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of StarTracker's written reviews are positive against 81% of Sky Tonight's.

StarTracker ships an update every 12 months, Sky Tonight every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StarTracker | Sky Tonight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (159 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startracker-mobile-skymap/id439581967/reviews) | **[4.8 (76K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sky-tonight-stargazing-guide/id1570594940/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 159 | **76K** |
| Positive reviews | **84.5% of reviews** | 80.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #136 | **#85** |
| Size | 19 MB | 518 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [身吉 潘](https://appshunter.io/developer/341563645) | [Vito Technology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/289641503) |

## What reviewers say

### StarTracker

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

**Currently charting:** #136 Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

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


### Sky Tonight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sky-tonight-stargazing-guide/id1570594940)

**Currently charting:** #85 Top Free · Reference, #101 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Explore the night sky with this astronomy app. Identify celestial objects, discover upcoming astronomical events, and track their positions. Customize your view, set reminders, and access detailed information for a personalized stargazing experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time interactive sky map, Augmented reality mode, Time Machine for past/future positions, Customizable object filters, Event reminders, Astronomy calendar with weather forecast, Flexible search for celestial objects

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-month Premium Access | $0.99 | per month |
| 1-month Premium Access | $2.99 | per month |
| 1-month Premium Access | $2.99 | per month |
| 1-year Premium Access | $4.99 | per year |
| 1-year Premium Access | $5.99 | per year |
| 1-year Premium Access | $5.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Access Sale | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for finding new things
- 🌟 Amazing and accurate
- 🔭 Helpful for learning about the night sky
- 🗓️ Provides calendar of sky events
- 🌍 Shows satellites and planets

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficult to calibrate and use
- 📢 Too many intrusive ads
- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🔔 Confusing/unnecessary notifications
- 🧭 Compass/location issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes frequently
- Menus and options not working properly
- Location tracking and sky view not updating correctly

**Requested features**

- Add more free content and features
- Improve calibration and compass accuracy
- Provide better onboarding and instructions
- Reduce ads or offer ad-free version
- Allow filtering by visible objects only


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StarTracker free?

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

### Is Sky Tonight free?

Sky Tonight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, StarTracker or Sky Tonight?

Sky Tonight is rated higher. StarTracker averages 4.7 out of 5 from 159 ratings, while Sky Tonight averages 4.8 from 76K ratings.

### Do StarTracker or Sky Tonight have ads?

Sky Tonight shows ads; StarTracker does not.

### Which is updated more often, StarTracker or Sky Tonight?

StarTracker ships an update every 12 months, and Sky Tonight every 2 months. Most recently, StarTracker was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sky Tonight on October 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, StarTracker or Sky Tonight?

StarTracker currently peaks at #136 in the App Store charts, and Sky Tonight at #85. 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.*