# Messier Journal vs SkyChecker

The clearest difference is price: SkyChecker at Free against Messier Journal's $0.99. SkyChecker also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

SkyChecker is free to download; Messier Journal costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Messier Journal against 5.0 for SkyChecker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Messier Journal ships an update every 3 months, SkyChecker every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Messier Journal | SkyChecker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messier-journal/id6753959873/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skychecker/id6757621845/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 158 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Damon Degner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845946345) | [ANDREW DAVID CHAMBERLAIN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867870098) |

## What reviewers say

### Messier Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messier-journal/id6753959873)

This app helps Northern Hemisphere astronomers and astrophotographers discover, locate, and journal all 110 Messier objects. It provides detailed information, star maps, and tools to record observations and upload photos.

**Highlights:** Learn about 110 Messier objects, Locate objects with star maps, Filter objects by constellation and type, Record observation details, Upload astrophotography, Track spotted object statistics, Generate object collages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### SkyChecker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skychecker/id6757621845)

Identify celestial objects visible from your location with real-time data. Track planets, galaxies, meteor showers, and the ISS. Includes weather integration and planning tools for optimal stargazing.

**Highlights:** Celestial object tracking, Weather integration for viewing conditions, Observation planning tools, Automatic GPS location detection, Retro terminal-style interface, ISS pass tracking, Meteor shower alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Messier Journal free?

Messier Journal costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SkyChecker free?

SkyChecker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Messier Journal or SkyChecker?

Messier Journal and SkyChecker are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Messier Journal or SkyChecker have ads?

Neither Messier Journal nor SkyChecker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Messier Journal or SkyChecker?

Messier Journal ships an update every 3 months, and SkyChecker every 4 weeks. Most recently, Messier Journal was updated on October 28, 2026 and SkyChecker on September 24, 2026.

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