# Observer Pro vs NYAAStarfest

The clearest difference is price: NYAAStarfest at Free against Observer Pro's $13.99. NYAAStarfest also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Observer Pro's advantage is chart position (#173 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

NYAAStarfest is free to download; Observer Pro costs $13.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Observer Pro ships an update every 6 months, NYAAStarfest every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Observer Pro | NYAAStarfest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $13.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.6 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-pro/id462392803/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **49** | — |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#173** | — |
| Size | 241 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joshua Bury](https://appshunter.io/developer/462392806) | [Malcolm Park](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873339192) |

## What reviewers say

### Observer Pro

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

**Currently charting:** #173 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

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


### NYAAStarfest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyaastarfest/id6758523156)

**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 NYAAStarfest free?

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

### Do Observer Pro or NYAAStarfest have ads?

Neither Observer Pro nor NYAAStarfest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Observer Pro or NYAAStarfest?

Observer Pro ships an update every 6 months, and NYAAStarfest every 2 days. Most recently, Observer Pro was updated on October 17, 2026 and NYAAStarfest on October 12, 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.*