# xSky vs Stellarium Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: Stellarium Mobile at 4.8 against xSky's 4.3. Stellarium Mobile also leads on ratings volume (39K vs 80) and chart position (#73 vs unranked). xSky's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stellarium Mobile sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. xSky asks for nothing beyond the download.

Stellarium Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stellarium Mobile has 39K ratings behind it against 80, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of xSky's written reviews are positive against 84% of Stellarium Mobile's.

xSky ships an update every 3 months, Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | xSky | Stellarium Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (80 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xsky/id850941042/reviews) | **[4.8 (39K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 80 | **39K** |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews | **84.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#73** |
| Size | 60 MB | 456 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleg Sur](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454732575) | [Noctua Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/629435881) |

## What reviewers say

### xSky

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xsky/id850941042)

Explore the cosmos with a virtual telescope. Point your device at the sky to identify celestial bodies. Zoom in for detailed views and use a search function to locate specific objects.

**Highlights:** Virtual telescope functionality, Identify Sun, Moon, Planets, Stars, Galaxies, Zoom up to a million times, Screen lock to stop motion, Object search arrow, Soft music and sound effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔭 Realistic space simulation
- ✨ Beautiful visuals and music
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 💡 Great for learning astronomy
- 💯 Highly accurate object identification

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashing issues
- 🧭 Location services not working
- 🔄 Inconsistent with reality (out of sync)
- 📱 Not optimized for all devices (e.g., iPhone 12)
- 🎛️ Hard to control

**Reported bugs**

- App keeps crashing
- Location services not working/picking a country
- App closes immediately upon opening
- App is glitchy and moves by itself
- Search button not working in horizontal position

**Requested features**

- Camera feature for high-quality photos
- Ability to turn down exposure for photos
- Facts read aloud about celestial objects
- Traditional constellation names (e.g., Virgo, Taurus)
- Show International Space Station or other satellites


### Stellarium Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarium-mobile-star-map/id1458716890)

**Currently charting:** #73 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Explore the night sky with a real-time planetarium. Identify stars, planets, constellations, and satellites by simply pointing your phone. Offers detailed astronomical data and cultural constellation interpretations.

**Highlights:** Real-time sky simulation, Identify stars, planets, satellites, Constellation shapes and illustrations, Deep sky object catalog, Night mode for eye comfort, Telescope control (Plus)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stellarium PLUS | $1.99 | per month |
| Stellarium PLUS | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Fabulous star tracking
- 🌌 Detailed night sky information
- 🔭 Helpful for stargazing and astronomy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🌍 Accurate for different locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding some objects
- 🌓 Inaccurate moon/planet positions in daylight
- 🔧 Calibration issues with compass
- 💰 Paid version may not justify the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Compass not working properly
- Favorites list disappearing
- Inconsistent performance on different devices

**Requested features**

- Notifications for astronomical events
- More customization options
- Integration with camera for AR overlay
- Better support for telescopes and mounts
- Improved search and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is xSky free?

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

### Is Stellarium Mobile free?

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

### Which has better reviews, xSky or Stellarium Mobile?

Stellarium Mobile is rated higher. xSky averages 4.3 out of 5 from 80 ratings, while Stellarium Mobile averages 4.8 from 39K ratings.

### Do xSky or Stellarium Mobile have ads?

Neither xSky nor Stellarium Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, xSky or Stellarium Mobile?

xSky ships an update every 3 months, and Stellarium Mobile every 5 weeks. Most recently, xSky was updated on October 20, 2026 and Stellarium Mobile on October 31, 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.*