Comparison

Cosmic Deepsky vs Lunar

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cosmic Deepsky

Explore the universe with a virtual telescope. Discover galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae with stunning real images and detailed information. A pocket guide to the cosmos.

Highlights
  • Virtual telescope functionality
  • Detailed information on 4000+ galaxies
  • Real astro-photographs of celestial objects
  • Hand-measured and oriented images
  • Exploration of deep sky objects
  • Information on star clusters and nebulae
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Cosmic Deepsky, where the marvels of the universe come alive through the lens of your device – your very own magic telescope. We live on a planet cruising through space, surrounded by the vast expanse of the cosmos. The canvas of our existence extends far beyond the confines of our planet, stretching into the depths of the celestial sphere above and below. By day, our atmosphere dances with the brilliance of sunlight, casting a cerulean glow upon the world. Yet, as night descends, a grand spectacle unfolds. Against the backdrop of darkness, myriad suns dot the heavens, weaving intricate constellations that have captivated humanity for millennia. Here, amidst the twinkling stars, lies the gateway to the deep sky – a realm where gas clouds and cosmic debris coalesce, painting celestial masterpieces with the strokes of light and gravity. Among these wonders, stars congregate in clusters, while others journey across the galactic plane in majestic arcs. Supernovae remnants and planetary systems adorn the spiral arms of our Milky Way galaxy, a cosmic tapestry of stellar life. Yet, the deep sky knows no bounds, extending far beyond our galactic borders to distant neighbors like the Magellanic Clouds and the majestic Andromeda galaxy. With Cosmic Deepsky, we invite you to peer into the depths of the universe like never before. Featuring the positions of the 4000 brightest and closest galaxies, alongside stunning real images of hundreds of them meticulously measured and oriented by hand, our app offers a unique window into the cosmic expanse. Delve into the depths of intergalactic space, where millions of galaxies beckon with their luminous allure, their distant light captured in mesmerizing astro-photographs. Embark on a journey of discovery and wonder as we unveil the mysteries of the cosmos. Through Cosmic Deepsky, may you find inspiration and awe in the boundless beauty that surrounds us, igniting a newfound appreciation for the magical universe we call home.

About

Lunar

Features
Read full description

Lunar puts the live Moon on your iPhone, widgets, Lock Screen, StandBy, and Apple Watch. Astronomy is calculated on your device for the exact time and place — no ads, account, subscription, or tracking. SEE THE MOON AS IT REALLY IS Explore a NASA LRO lunar surface, lit by the computed Sun and oriented for your sky. Time-travel through nearby dates and return to now with a tap. PLAN WITH PRECISION See phase, illumination, age, distance, angular size, moonrise, transit, moonset, altitude, azimuth, eclipses, golden hour, and blue hour. Browse the month calendar and 12-month almanac. BUILT FOR EVERY SCREEN Use Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, StandBy, Apple Watch complications, Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight, and a moonrise Live Activity. Optional Apple Weather cloud cover is off by default. Today, Sky, the small widget, and full/new moon alerts are free. A no-charge 7-day Trial unlocks the remaining features for seven days; Lunar Unlock is a separate one-time purchase. Neither is a subscription or auto-renews. Lunar works offline and without permission grants.

Screenshots

Cosmic Deepsky4 screens
Lunar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Lunar at Free against Cosmic Deepsky's $2.99. Lunar also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 23 months). Cosmic Deepsky's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Lunar is free to download; Cosmic Deepsky costs $2.99 up front. Lunar sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Cosmic Deepsky asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cosmic Deepsky ships an update every 23 months, Lunar every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cosmic Deepsky versus Lunar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCosmic DeepskyLunar
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 23 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size114 MB136 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCelestial Dynamics AGAphelion Engineering Pty Ltd

In-app purchases

None

Cosmic Deepsky

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Lunar

One-time2
  • 7-day TrialFree
  • Unlock Lunar$4.99

Questions

Is Cosmic Deepsky free?
Cosmic Deepsky costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lunar free?
Lunar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cosmic Deepsky or Lunar have ads?
Neither Cosmic Deepsky nor Lunar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cosmic Deepsky or Lunar?
Cosmic Deepsky ships an update every 23 months, and Lunar every 4 days. Most recently, Cosmic Deepsky was updated on October 24, 2026 and Lunar on October 15, 2026.

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