# STAR/CHILD vs Beacon

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Beacon at 91% against STAR/CHILD's 36%. Beacon also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. STAR/CHILD sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Beacon sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Beacon holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 401 and 483 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of STAR/CHILD's written reviews are positive against 91% of Beacon's.

STAR/CHILD ships an update monthly, Beacon every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | STAR/CHILD | Beacon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (401 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starchild/id6475495211/reviews) | **[4.9 (483 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-postpartum-support/id6754093355/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 401 | **483** |
| Positive reviews | 36.2% of reviews | **91.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 95 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STAR/CHILD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724255138) | [Keagan Scott](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846614886) |

## What reviewers say

### STAR/CHILD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starchild/id6475495211)

This app provides personalized astrological insights for parents, offering detailed relationship breakdowns and birth chart analyses for your entire family. It delivers daily horoscopes, audio readings, and weekly previews to help you understand your children's needs and enhance your parenting style.

**Highlights:** Family relationship breakdowns, Full birth charts and analysis, Daily horoscopes for parents and kids, Daily and weekly audio astrology readings, Whole Sky horoscope tracking, Downloadable parenting guides

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $10.00 | per month |
| Yearly | $99.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Comprehensive and detailed astrological content
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-focused insights for parenting
- 🎨 Beautiful and intuitive user interface design
- 📖 In-depth guides and daily/weekly readings
- 💡 Thoughtful, balanced, and non-fear-mongering interpretations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches
- 🔄 Inconsistent content update timing
- 🔐 Persistent login and account issues
- ⏰ Daily readings not available early morning
- 📅 Date recognition problems and display errors

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or when opening
- Login screen loops infinitely
- Users logged out repeatedly throughout the day
- Account data wiped requiring re-input of information
- New app update reverts to old interface

**Requested features**

- Multiple house system options (Placidus, Porphyry, Equal House)
- Synastry and composite chart analysis
- Relational analysis comparing parent-child charts
- Ability to add grandchildren and extended family
- Automatic daily reading uploads at consistent times


### Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-postpartum-support/id6754093355)

Connect with other mothers during challenging postpartum moments. Share your experience anonymously on a live map, track your baby's needs, monitor your mood, and access helpful resources and community support.

**Highlights:** Live map of awake mothers, Baby feeding, sleep, and diaper tracker, Mood and wellness tracking, Postpartum journaling, Community forum, Expert resources and guides, Helpful tools and calculators

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beacon Premium (Weekly) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Beacon Premium (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Beacon Premium (Annual) | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STAR/CHILD free?

STAR/CHILD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Beacon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, STAR/CHILD or Beacon?

Beacon is rated higher. STAR/CHILD averages 4.4 out of 5 from 401 ratings, while Beacon averages 4.9 from 483 ratings.

### Do STAR/CHILD or Beacon have ads?

STAR/CHILD shows ads; Beacon does not.

### Which is updated more often, STAR/CHILD or Beacon?

STAR/CHILD ships an update monthly, and Beacon every 8 days. Most recently, STAR/CHILD was updated on October 16, 2026 and Beacon on October 16, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*