Comparison

StarParade vs Star Explorer

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

Head to head
About

StarParade

Features
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StarParade は、スマートフォンのセンサーを活用した AR 星空観察アプリです。 端末を夜空にかざすだけで、その方向にある星や星座をリアルタイムで画面に表示します。難しい操作は一切不要。起動して、空にかざすだけ。 【主な機能】 - 9,000以上の恒星データ(Bright Star Catalogue)を内蔵 - 88星座の線画と名称を表示 - 惑星(水星〜土星)のリアルタイム位置表示 - 星の名前・等級・距離・スペクトル型などの詳細情報 - 星名・星座名で検索し、矢印ガイドでナビゲーション - 時刻スライダーで過去・未来の星空をシミュレーション - 等級フィルターで表示する星の数を調整 - 暗順応を守るナイトモード(赤色表示) 【完全オフライン動作】 すべての星表データと計算ロジックをアプリに内蔵。インターネット接続が一切不要で、山岳地帯・離島・キャンプ場・飛行機内でも使えます。 【料金プラン】 - Free: 無料で全機能が使えます(広告あり) - Pro: ¥700の買い切りで広告を非表示に 美しいダークテーマのUIで、夜間の星空観察を邪魔しません。

About

Star Explorer

Features
Read full description

Point your iPhone at the night sky and instantly see what you're looking at. Star Explorer names stars, planets, constellations and the Moon in AR, and tells you what's worth seeing tonight from where you are. No sign-up needed to start. The star catalog, sky map and astronomy assistant work offline, so they keep working at dark-sky sites with no signal. WHAT YOU CAN DO - AR star finder: hold up your phone to identify stars, planets and constellations, with comet and meteor-shower layers - Night sky map: a live all-sky chart you can move forward or back in time; search 8,900+ stars, all 88 constellations and all 110 Messier objects - Tonight's sky: Moon phase, visible planets and observing conditions for your location and weather - Sky events: meteor showers, planet oppositions and every solar and lunar eclipse from 2027 to 2030, with reminders - Offline astronomy assistant: ask questions and get an observing plan without a connection - Red-light night mode that protects your night vision - Tonight's Sky widget for your Home Screen - Bite-size astronomy lessons with quizzes, and a stargazing trip planner - Made for iPhone and iPad, including the iPhone Duo inner display Free forever: AR star finder, sky map, sky events, offline assistant, lessons, night mode and widget. Optional purchases: - Pro, all features, lifetime: one-time purchase that unlocks the deep-sky catalog, astrophotography assistant, cloud AI and photo identification - Observing Tools, lifetime: one-time purchase that unlocks the deep-sky catalog and astrophotography assistant - Cloud AI monthly / yearly subscription: unlocks cloud AI answers and photo identification Auto-renewing subscriptions: the subscription period is 1 month or 1 year, and payment is charged to your Apple ID account when you confirm the purchase. The subscription renews automatically at the same price unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel any time in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. The price shown on the App Store purchase confirmation is final. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://star.xinghebit.com/privacy/ Sky data, weather, travel routes and AI answers may contain errors and are not navigation, weather or safety guarantees. Check official sources before observing outdoors. Never look at the Sun through a camera, binoculars or telescope without a certified solar filter.

Screenshots

StarParade4 screens
Star Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: StarParade at 13.0 against Star Explorer's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. StarParade sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Star Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StarParade ships an update every 4 days, Star Explorer every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
StarParade versus Star Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarParadeStar Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTomohiko OnishiBeijing XingheBit Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

StarParade

One-time1
  • Pro プラン$3.99
4 purchases

Star Explorer

Subscriptions2
  • 云端 AI 月度订阅$1.991 Month
  • 云端 AI 年度订阅$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • 观测工具永久解锁$3.99
  • Star Explorer Pro 买断$6.99

Questions

Is StarParade free?
StarParade is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Star Explorer free?
Star Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do StarParade or Star Explorer have ads?
Neither StarParade nor Star Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StarParade or Star Explorer?
StarParade ships an update every 4 days, and Star Explorer every 3 days. Most recently, StarParade was updated on October 25, 2026 and Star Explorer on October 25, 2026.

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