# Observer Pro vs Dark Sky Meter Pro

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Observer Pro at 79% against Dark Sky Meter Pro's 0%. Observer Pro also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (49 vs 1). Dark Sky Meter Pro's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $13.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Observer Pro costs $13.99 and Dark Sky Meter Pro $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Observer Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Observer Pro has 49 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Observer Pro's written reviews are positive against 0% of Dark Sky Meter Pro's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 months. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Observer Pro | Dark Sky Meter Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $13.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | **[4.6 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-pro/id462392803/reviews)** | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-sky-meter-pro/id6755680551/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **79.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 241 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joshua Bury](https://appshunter.io/developer/462392806) | [DDQ](https://appshunter.io/developer/418328467) |

## What reviewers say

### Observer Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-pro/id462392803)

This app helps advanced astronomers and astrophotographers plan their observing sessions. It predicts object visibility, factoring in local obstructions, and provides weather forecasts. Manage observing lists and favorite sites to maximize your stargazing time.

**Highlights:** 14,000+ deep sky objects with photos, Local horizon profile measurement, Object visibility prediction charts, Featured object recommendations, Favorite observing site management, Astronomical weather forecasts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Excellent target planning and visibility forecasting
- 🌍 Custom horizon mapping feature is intuitive and unique
- 📊 Comprehensive visualization graphs and charts
- 🔍 Extensive DSO catalog with detailed object information
- 📸 Offline object images included

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes when selecting catalog groupings (recent)
- 🐛 Keyboard doesn't dismiss after input (iPad issue)
- 🐛 Data loss - observer lists disappearing
- 🐛 Search function missing in recent version
- ⏱️ Lack of developer updates for extended periods

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when selecting catalog groupings (Galaxy, Planetary Nebulae, etc.)
- iOS keyboard doesn't dismiss on iPad after clicking Done
- Observer lists and custom data disappearing after app closure
- Search feature missing in version 1.4
- Continuous crashes since recent updates

**Requested features**

- iPad native app with landscape mode support
- Search functionality restoration/improvement
- Export observer lists to other apps (Sky Safari, etc.)
- Support for planets, comets, and asteroids
- Observing notes and session logging


### Dark Sky Meter Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-sky-meter-pro/id6755680551)

This app uses your iPhone's camera to measure sky brightness, providing scientific readings for light pollution. Track measurements, compare sites, and plan stargazing with cloud forecasts and astronomical data.

**Highlights:** Sky brightness measurement (SQM, Bortle, NELM), Device-specific calibration, Save and sync measurements locally, Export data to CSV, Cloud forecast for planning, Sky quality map comparison, Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase data

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Observer Pro free?

Observer Pro costs $13.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dark Sky Meter Pro free?

Dark Sky Meter Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Observer Pro or Dark Sky Meter Pro?

Observer Pro is rated higher. Observer Pro averages 4.6 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Dark Sky Meter Pro averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Observer Pro or Dark Sky Meter Pro have ads?

Neither Observer Pro nor Dark Sky Meter Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Observer Pro or Dark Sky Meter Pro?

Observer Pro ships an update every 6 months, and Dark Sky Meter Pro every 6 months. Most recently, Observer Pro was updated on October 17, 2026 and Dark Sky Meter Pro on October 17, 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.*