# Observer Pro vs Astro Skies

The clearest difference is price: Astro Skies at Free against Observer Pro's $13.99. Astro Skies also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Observer Pro's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (49 vs 1). On in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Astro Skies holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. 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.

Observer Pro ships an update every 6 months, Astro Skies every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Observer Pro | Astro Skies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $13.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/observer-pro/id462392803/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-skies/id6788598114/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 241 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joshua Bury](https://appshunter.io/developer/462392806) | [DAVID ANDRES FERNANDEZ PEREZ](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788598116) |

## 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


### Astro Skies

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-skies/id6788598114)

Plan your stargazing sessions with this astronomy app. It provides real-time observing conditions, weather forecasts, lunar information, and visible celestial objects to help you make the most of your nights under the stars.

**Highlights:** Observing score based on sky and weather, Detailed weather and seeing conditions, Moon phase and astronomical darkness, Visible objects and astronomical events, Red vision mode for night use, Camera-based sky pointer

**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 Astro Skies free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Observer Pro or Astro Skies?

Astro Skies is rated higher. Observer Pro averages 4.6 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Astro Skies averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Observer Pro or Astro Skies have ads?

Astro Skies shows ads; Observer Pro does not.

### Which is updated more often, Observer Pro or Astro Skies?

Observer Pro ships an update every 6 months, and Astro Skies every 3 weeks. Most recently, Observer Pro was updated on September 21, 2026 and Astro Skies on September 7, 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.*