# Night Sky vs Satellite Tracker by Star Walk

The clearest difference is ads: Night Sky at none against Satellite Tracker by Star Walk's shown. Night Sky also leads on ratings volume (499K vs 70K) and chart position (#23 vs #188). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Night Sky sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and Satellite Tracker by Star Walk sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Night Sky against 4.6 for Satellite Tracker by Star Walk. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Night Sky has 499K ratings behind it against 70K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Night Sky's written reviews are positive against 58% of Satellite Tracker by Star Walk's.

Night Sky ships an update monthly, Satellite Tracker by Star Walk every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Night Sky | Satellite Tracker by Star Walk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (499K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-sky/id475772902/reviews)** | [4.6 (70K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-tracker-by-star-walk/id1248172706/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **499K** | 70K |
| Positive reviews | **62.9% of reviews** | 57.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#23** | #188 |
| Size | 530 MB | 331 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iCandi Apps Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/305827577) | [Vito Technology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/289641503) |

## What reviewers say

### Night Sky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-sky/id475772902)

**Currently charting:** #23 Top Free · Reference, #27 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Identify stars, planets, and constellations by pointing your device at the sky. Explore celestial objects in augmented reality and learn about space with an AI super astronomer. Share stargazing experiences with friends and family.

**Highlights:** AI personal planetarium, AR exploration of celestial objects, AI Super Astronomer assistant, Personalized Sky Tags, Connected Stargazing with SharePlay, Spatial audio navigation, AR Planetary Portals & Grand Orrery

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, SharePlay, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Night Sky + | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Night Sky + | $9.99 | per month |
| Night Sky + Aura | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Night Sky + Aura | $17.99 | per month |
| Night Sky + | $49.99 | per year |
| Night Sky + Aura | $69.99 | per year |
| Night Sky + Aura | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent app for stargazing and learning about the night sky
- 🔭 Detailed information on celestial objects, satellites, and space events
- 🌍 Accurate mapping of the sky to real-world locations
- 🎨 Beautiful visuals and animations
- 🔍 Helpful for identifying stars, planets, and constellations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Frequent prompts to upgrade to premium subscription
- 🔌 Concerns about high battery consumption
- 🤔 Calibration and alignment issues with the AR features
- 🤯 Overwhelming amount of information and features for casual users
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches reported

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing or freezing during use
- Inaccurate mapping of the night sky compared to the real-world view
- Issues with the app continuing to run and consume data in the background even when not in use

**Requested features**

- Option to disable or reduce the frequency of subscription prompts
- Improved accuracy and responsiveness of the AR sky blending
- More customization options to tailor the app experience
- Better support for users in areas with high light pollution
- Ability to search for and locate specific celestial objects more easily


### Satellite Tracker by Star Walk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-tracker-by-star-walk/id1248172706)

**Currently charting:** #188 Top Grossing · Reference (US App Store)

Track satellites in real-time, including the ISS and Starlink. Get predictions for upcoming passes and set alerts. Explore satellite orbits and trajectories with various viewing modes.

**Highlights:** Real-time satellite tracking, Satellite flyby timer, Pass predictions, Customizable location, Fly-with-satellite view, Satellite orbit over Earth

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Real Time Satellite Tracking | $0.49 | per month |
| Satellite Tracker Premium: 1m | $0.99 | per month |
| Real Time Satellite Tracking | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| Satellite Tracker Premium: 1m | $1.99 | per month |
| Satellite Tracker Premium: 1m | $1.99 | per month |
| Satellite Tracker Premium: 1y | $5.99 | per year |
| Satellite Tracker Premium: 1y | $7.99 | per year |
| Satellite Tracker Premium: 1y | $7.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Access Sale | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔭 Excellent for tracking ISS
- 🌍 Impressive 3D graphics
- 👍 Helpful for stargazing with kids
- 🔍 Useful for identifying satellites

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model too restrictive
- 🔍 Limited satellite tracking options
- 🕰️ Inaccurate pass timing notifications
- 🔌 Requires internet connection
- 🔍 Difficult to find and track specific satellites

**Reported bugs**

- Unsubscribe button not working
- Compass issues causing incorrect orientation
- Occasional crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Add more satellite tracking options
- Improve pass timing accuracy
- Provide offline mode for remote use
- Allow tracking of HAM radio satellites
- Add more detailed satellite information


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Night Sky free?

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

### Is Satellite Tracker by Star Walk free?

Satellite Tracker by Star Walk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Night Sky or Satellite Tracker by Star Walk?

Night Sky is rated higher. Night Sky averages 4.7 out of 5 from 499K ratings, while Satellite Tracker by Star Walk averages 4.6 from 70K ratings.

### Do Night Sky or Satellite Tracker by Star Walk have ads?

Satellite Tracker by Star Walk shows ads; Night Sky does not.

### Which is updated more often, Night Sky or Satellite Tracker by Star Walk?

Night Sky ships an update monthly, and Satellite Tracker by Star Walk every 2 months. Most recently, Night Sky was updated on November 12, 2026 and Satellite Tracker by Star Walk on November 12, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Night Sky or Satellite Tracker by Star Walk?

Night Sky currently peaks at #23 in the App Store charts, and Satellite Tracker by Star Walk at #188. 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.*