Comparison

Cosmic Deepsky vs Live Orbit

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

Live Orbit

Explore orbital space with a beautiful 3D globe, plan satellite passes, and use AR mode to identify objects in the sky. Access detailed satellite data, space weather, launch information, and more. Designed for both casual users and space enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Live 3D satellite tracking
  • Visible pass planning
  • Augmented Reality (AR) mode
  • Space weather and launch tracking
  • Radio observation recordings
  • Moon, Sun, and Mars spacecraft modes
Read full description

Look up. There’s a lot going on. Live Orbit is a satellite tracker for iPhone and iPad. Explore Earth on a 3D globe, find the International Space Station and other satellites, and plan your next chance to look up. TAKE CONTROL OF TIME Explore calculated satellite positions up to a week backward or forward. Scrub through orbital motion, then glide back to live tracking. TRACK SATELLITES Follow satellite positions and orbit paths. Search by name or NORAD ID, explore satellite details, and save favorites for later. PLAN YOUR NEXT PASS See predicted passes for your location, with timing and viewing direction. Check the information you need before heading outside. POINT YOUR PHONE Use Sky Mode to explore nearby sky directions, identify a satellite marker, and return to its details. Switch to the camera background when you want AR guidance. Pointing depends on your device's sensors and tracking conditions; satellite positions are calculated from orbital data. GO BEYOND EARTH ORBIT Explore Moon, Sun, and Mars views, spacecraft information, launches, space weather, and space news in one place. LISTEN TO SPACE Play available SatNOGS ground-station recordings with playback controls and signal imagery. KEEP AN OBSERVING LOG Use Radio Toolkit to plan sessions, save observations, and work through radio and antenna calculations. Receiving satellite radio signals requires external equipment; your iPhone is not a satellite radio receiver. Location is optional. Enable it for local passes and pointing. No Live Orbit account is required. Some features require Live Orbit Pro, available as an auto-renewable subscription. The purchase screen shows the current price, duration, and any eligible trial before you subscribe. You can restore purchases in the app and manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.liveorbitapp.com/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.liveorbitapp.com/terms/ Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Cosmic Deepsky4 screens
Live Orbit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Live Orbit at Free against Cosmic Deepsky's $2.99. Live Orbit also leads on update cadence (every 10 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 rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

Live Orbit is free to download; Cosmic Deepsky costs $2.99 up front. Live Orbit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Cosmic Deepsky asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Cosmic Deepsky against 5.0 for Live Orbit. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cosmic Deepsky ships an update every 23 months, Live Orbit every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Cosmic Deepsky versus Live Orbit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCosmic DeepskyLive Orbit
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings46 — better
Update frequencyEvery 23 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size114 MB312 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCelestial Dynamics AGApps Made Better

Customer experience

Cosmic Deepsky

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Live Orbit

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cosmic Deepsky

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Live Orbit

Subscriptions2
  • Live Orbit Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Live Orbit Pro Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Cosmic Deepsky free?
Cosmic Deepsky costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Live Orbit free?
Live Orbit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cosmic Deepsky or Live Orbit?
Cosmic Deepsky and Live Orbit are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 6 ratings respectively.
Do Cosmic Deepsky or Live Orbit have ads?
Neither Cosmic Deepsky nor Live Orbit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cosmic Deepsky or Live Orbit?
Cosmic Deepsky ships an update every 23 months, and Live Orbit every 10 days. Most recently, Cosmic Deepsky was updated on October 13, 2026 and Live Orbit on October 15, 2026.

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