Cosmic Deepsky vs Live Orbit
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Cosmic Deepsky | Live Orbit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 114 MB | 312 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Celestial Dynamics AG | Apps Made Better |
Customer experience
Cosmic Deepsky
Live Orbit
In-app purchases
Cosmic Deepsky
No in-app purchases
Live Orbit
- Live Orbit Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Live Orbit Pro Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year





