Comparison

SkySort vs Stratus Cloud Journal

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

Head to head
About

SkySort

Instantly identify cloud types using AI-powered image recognition. Snap a photo of the sky to discover detailed information about various cloud formations and their associated weather conditions. Save your observations and track your cloud spotting progress.

Highlights
  • AI cloud type recognition
  • Photo import and capture
  • Detailed cloud information
  • Weather data integration
  • Observation saving and tracking
  • Offline capability
  • Cloud encyclopedia
Features
Read full description

Point your camera at the sky and know what you’re looking at. SkySort uses on‑device AI to identify clouds in seconds — no internet required — then logs each sighting with the weather and location in your own private sky journal. Whether you’re a weather watcher, hiker, photographer, student, or simply sky‑curious, SkySort helps you notice more and learn as you go. IDENTIFY IN SECONDS • Snap a photo or import one from your library — SkySort recognizes 12 sky conditions: Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Stratus, Stratocumulus, Nimbostratus, Altocumulus, Altostratus, Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, Cirrostratus, contrails, and clear sky. • Every result includes a confidence score and an at‑a‑glance quality rating, so you always know how sure the model is. • Identification runs entirely on your device — fast, offline, and private. LEARN THE SKY • A built‑in encyclopedia covers all 12 cloud types: how they form, the weather they signal, and how to tell look‑alikes apart. • Explore 25 weather terms and 6 special phenomena — halos, sun dogs, iridescence, virga, crepuscular rays, and lenticular clouds — with example photos. • Not sure what you’re seeing? The ID Helper walks you through a few simple questions to narrow it down. BUILD YOUR SKY JOURNAL • Every observation is saved with its photo, type, confidence, date, and place. • SkySort automatically records the weather the moment you save — temperature, wind, humidity, pressure, visibility, UV, and cloud cover. • Search, filter, and sort your history, and see all your sightings on a map. • Track your trends: most‑common clouds, average confidence, and recent activity. SYNC, SHARE & EXPORT • Your journal syncs across iPhone and iPad through your private iCloud. • Share a cloud with a ready‑made caption — your location is never included. • Export everything to CSV or a polished PDF report, in Metric or Imperial units. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Photos are analyzed on your device and are never uploaded to a server for identification. • Your observations live in your own iCloud, not on our servers. • Shared images and captions never include your GPS coordinates. Download SkySort and start reading the sky. — Weather data provided by Weather. Cloud identifications are AI predictions and may not always be exact.

About

Stratus Cloud Journal

Features
Read full description

Look up. Stratus turns every glance at the sky into a personal cloud archive — from towering cumulonimbus on a stormy afternoon to delicate cirrus filaments at 40,000 feet. No account. No internet. Just you and the sky. — KEY FEATURES — • Field Log — Record unlimited cloud sightings with date, cloud type, location label, sky color (6 options), and freeform notes. Swipe to delete entries you no longer need. • 10-Cloud Reference Catalog — Browse all 10 standard cloud genera: cumulus, cirrus, stratus, cumulonimbus, altocumulus, altostratus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, nimbostratus, and stratocumulus. Each entry shows altitude range, cloud family, and a practical weather hint. • Family Filter — Narrow the catalog to just the Cumulus, Cirrus, Alto, or Stratus family with a single tap on the filter chips. • Cloud Detail — Tap any catalog entry for a full-screen profile: altitude, family badge, and the weather pattern it typically signals. • Atlas — A monthly calendar density grid shades every day by how many clouds you logged. Navigate backward and forward through months to spot your most active spotting periods at a glance. • Sighting Detail — Tap any log entry to review the full observation: date, location, sky color, your notes, and the matched cloud profile side by side. • Offline First — Everything works without a network connection. Your data stays on your device — no sync, no tracking, no ads. • Ready on First Launch — 15 sample sightings are pre-loaded so you can explore the app immediately and see exactly how entries look before adding your own. Start your sky journal today. The next interesting cloud is already forming overhead. — Stratus Cloud Journal PREMIUM — A Premium subscription unlocks the complete Stratus experience: unlimited cloud sightings and field notes, the full ten-genera reference atlas, your monthly density atlas, and an entirely offline, ad-free environment — everything you need to keep a faithful record of the sky. Subscription options: • Weekly — $9.99 / week • Yearly — $49.99 / year (includes a 3-day free trial) Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pnkl26.web.app/privacy-policy

Screenshots

SkySort4 screens
Stratus Cloud Journal3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SkySort at none against Stratus Cloud Journal's 2. Stratus Cloud Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. Stratus Cloud Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. SkySort asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SkySort ships an update monthly, Stratus Cloud Journal every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
SkySort versus Stratus Cloud Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkySortStratus Cloud Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew CarlsonLinh Phan Nhat Khanh

In-app purchases

None

SkySort

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Stratus Cloud Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Stratus Cloud Journal Weekly$9.997 Days
  • Stratus Cloud Journal Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is SkySort free?
SkySort is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stratus Cloud Journal free?
Stratus Cloud Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SkySort or Stratus Cloud Journal have ads?
Neither SkySort nor Stratus Cloud Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SkySort or Stratus Cloud Journal?
SkySort ships an update monthly, and Stratus Cloud Journal every 8 days. Most recently, SkySort was updated on October 26, 2026 and Stratus Cloud Journal on October 18, 2026.

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