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Best Star Sky Scanner Apps

181+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
15 free apps
Updated June 2026

Out of 181+ star sky scanner apps on iOS, 15 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.

Compare top Star Sky Scanner Apps (June 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Sky GuideSky GuideFree4.8★ (26K)NoYesJul 2026
2Night SkyNight SkyFree4.7★ (482K)NoYesJul 2026
3Skyscanner Flights & TravelSkyscanner Flights & TravelFree4.8★ (493K)YesNoJul 2026
4SkyView® LiteSkyView® LiteFree4.5★ (18K)YesYesJul 2026
5Star Guide: Night Sky MapStar Guide: Night Sky MapFree4.6★ (3.9K)YesYesJul 2026
6Sky Tonight - Stargazing GuideSky Tonight - Stargazing GuideFree4.8★ (74K)YesYesJul 2026
7SkyView®SkyView®$2.994.6★ (7.5K)NoNoJul 2026
8Stellarium Mobile - Star MapStellarium Mobile - Star MapFree4.8★ (36K)NoYesJul 2026

Top Picks for Star Sky Scanner

Sky Guide#1

Sky Guide by Fifth Star Labs LLC

Star gaze constellation finder
Editor's Choice
🔍 Reference
4.8😊(26K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#10in Reference
Sky Guide screenshot 1
Sky Guide screenshot 2
Sky Guide screenshot 3
Sky Guide screenshot 4
Sky Guide screenshot 5
Sky Guide screenshot 6

Identify stars, constellations, planets, and satellites in real-time by holding your device overhead. Explore celestial bodies with AR overlays, track satellites like the ISS, and travel through time to view past and future astronomical events. Perfect for both novice and experienced stargazers.

What We Love

  • 🌟 Stunning visuals and graphics
  • 📚 Wealth of information on celestial objects
  • 🧭 Accurate and responsive compass/AR features
  • 🌌 Immersive stargazing experience

Room to Improve

  • 🧭 Occasional compass/location calibration issues
  • 💰 Subscription model limits access to some features
  • 🌍 Lack of support for certain regions/locations
Night Sky#2

Night Sky by iCandi Apps Ltd.

Guide to Stars,Comets,Meteors
Strong Contender
🔍 Reference
4.7😊(482K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#17in Reference
Night Sky screenshot 1
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Night Sky screenshot 3
Night Sky screenshot 4
Night Sky screenshot 5
Night Sky screenshot 6

Explore the cosmos with an AI-powered planetarium. Identify stars, planets, and satellites by pointing your device at the sky. Discover celestial objects in augmented reality and share your stargazing experiences with others.

What We Love

  • 🌟 Excellent app for stargazing and learning about the night sky
  • 🔭 Detailed information on celestial objects, satellites, and space events
  • 🌍 Accurate mapping of the sky to real-world locations
  • 🎨 Beautiful visuals and animations

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Frequent prompts to upgrade to premium subscription
  • 🔌 Concerns about high battery consumption
  • 🤔 Calibration and alignment issues with the AR features
Skyscanner Flights & Travel#3

Skyscanner Flights & Travel by Skyscanner Limited

Cheap Flight Tickets & Booking
Worth Considering
✈️ Travel
4.8😐(493K ratings)
FreeAds
#73in Travel
Skyscanner Flights & Travel screenshot 1
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Skyscanner Flights & Travel screenshot 3
Skyscanner Flights & Travel screenshot 4
Skyscanner Flights & Travel screenshot 5
Skyscanner Flights & Travel screenshot 6

Easily plan your next trip by finding the best prices on flights, hotels, and rental cars. Compare deals from numerous providers with no hidden fees or booking charges. Discover new destinations and book with confidence.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Finds good flight deals
  • 🚀 Helpful for planning trips
  • 🚀 Useful app for travel

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Inaccurate or misleading prices
  • 🐛 Unreliable third-party partners
  • 🐛 Difficult to use filters

More Star Sky Scanner apps to explore

4
SkyView® Lite
SkyView® Lite
SkyView® Lite
Explore the Universe
Free

Identify stars, constellations, satellites, and more by simply pointing your device at the sky. This augmented reality app makes stargazing accessible to everyone, day or night. Explore celestial paths and even travel through time to view the sky on different dates.

Identify stars, constellations, and satellitesAugmented Reality (AR) stargazingSet reminders for celestial events
📚 Education
(18K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Star Guide: Night Sky Map
Star Guide: Night Sky Map
Star Guide: Night Sky Map
Explore the Night Sky
Free

Transform your device into a real-time planetarium to explore the night sky. Identify stars and planets, and plan optimal viewing times. Experience celestial objects in 3D and preview future or past sky conditions from any location.

Real-time star and planet identificationAugmented Reality sky overlay3D celestial object visualization
📚 Education
(3.9K)
free with in-app purchases
6
Sky Tonight - Stargazing Guide
Sky Tonight - Stargazing Guide
Sky Tonight - Stargazing Guide
Constellation Star Finder App
Free

Explore the night sky with this astronomy app. Identify celestial objects, discover upcoming astronomical events, and track their positions. Customize your view, set reminders, and access detailed information for a personalized stargazing experience.

Real-time interactive sky mapAugmented reality modeTime Machine for past/future positions
🔍 Reference
(74K)
free with in-app purchases
7
SkyView®
SkyView®
SkyView®
Explore the Universe
$2.99

Identify stars, constellations, planets, and satellites by simply pointing your device at the sky. This app uses augmented reality to guide you and provides information on celestial objects, upcoming events, and even allows you to travel through time to view the sky on different dates.

Identify stars, planets, and satellites with ARDiscover all 88 constellationsSchedule alerts for celestial events
📚 Education
(7.5K)
free
8
Stellarium Mobile - Star Map
Stellarium Mobile - Star Map
Stellarium Mobile - Star Map
Watch night sky, find stars
Free

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.

Real-time sky simulationIdentify stars, planets, satellitesConstellation shapes and illustrations
📚 Education
(36K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Star Chart
Star Chart
Star Chart
by ESCAPE VELOCITY LIMITED
Free

Explore the cosmos with this augmented reality astronomy app. Point your device at the sky to identify stars, planets, and constellations in real-time. Discover celestial bodies and their positions, even traveling through time to view the universe's past and future.

Augmented reality sky identification3D simulation of the visible universeReal-time celestial object tracking
📚 Education
(25K)
free with in-app purchases
10
Classic Sky Map 2
Classic Sky Map 2
Classic Sky Map 2
Astronomy made easy.
Free

Explore the cosmos with an intuitive and beautiful sky map. Easily identify stars, planets, and constellations by simply pointing your device at the sky. Track celestial events and understand astronomical movements with time-lapse features.

Live sky trackingInteractive earth mapTime-lapse sky simulation
📚 Education
(8.9K)
free with in-app purchases
11
GoSkyWatch Planetarium
GoSkyWatch Planetarium
GoSkyWatch Planetarium
Go Explore the Night Sky
$3.99

Explore the night sky by simply pointing your device upwards. Identify stars, planets, and constellations with touch-free identification and detailed information. Discover celestial objects and learn about the universe with this personal telescope.

Identify stars, planets, comets, constellations, galaxiesTouch-free identificationFull 180-degree display
🗺️ Navigation
(10K)
paid
12
Star Walk 2 Plus: Live Sky Map
Star Walk 2 Plus: Live Sky Map
Star Walk 2 Plus: Live Sky Map
Your Free Path to the Stars
Free

Explore the cosmos with a real-time sky map. Point your device to identify stars, planets, and constellations. Discover celestial events and learn about the universe with detailed information and 3D models.

Real-time sky map3D constellation modelsTime machine feature
📚 Education
(93K)
free with in-app purchases
13
SkySafari
SkySafari
SkySafari
Astronomy Guide To Night Sky
$6.99

This powerful pocket planetarium helps you explore the night sky. Identify celestial objects by pointing your device, view astrophotography, and plan your stargazing with real-time visibility information. Offers guided tours and pronunciation guides for a comprehensive learning experience.

Point and identify stars, planets, and constellationsExplore astrophotography in the Image GalleryView real-time sky visibility in 'Sky Tonight'
🔍 Reference
(18K)
free with in-app purchases
14
OSR Star Finder
OSR Star Finder
OSR Star Finder
Stars, Constellations & More
Free

Explore the night sky and locate your named star with this augmented reality app. Discover constellations, learn about celestial bodies, and easily find when and where to view your star from your location. Share your stargazing experiences with others.

Name and find your own starLocate and track starsExplore 88 constellations with artwork
📚 Education
(4.6K)
free
15
Star Gazer: Sky Map& Astronomy
Star Gazer: Sky Map& Astronomy
Star Gazer: Sky Map& Astronomy
Stars, Moon & Constellation.s
Free

Explore the cosmos by pointing your device at the sky. Discover stars, planets, and constellations with interactive 3D views and augmented reality. Learn fascinating facts about space and celestial bodies.

Interactive 3D celestial object viewsAugmented reality sky explorationIdentify stars, planets, and constellations
📚 Education
(6.8K)
subscription
16
Stellar Tour - AR Stargazer
Stellar Tour - AR Stargazer
Stellar Tour - AR Stargazer
Astronomy: Night Sky Star Map
Free
$2.99 | 100% OFF

Explore the cosmos with an augmented reality stargazing app guided by an astrophysicist. Discover exoplanets, solar system bodies, and deep-sky objects with scientifically accurate narratives and detailed visuals.

Augmented reality stargazingAstrophysicist-guided toursDetailed exoplanet information
📚 Education
(1.7K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Light Pollution Map - Dark Sky
Light Pollution Map - Dark Sky
Light Pollution Map - Dark Sky
Astronomy tools & more
Free

Discover optimal locations for stargazing and astrophotography with a detailed light pollution map. Get real-time alerts for celestial events like meteor showers and auroras, track the ISS, and access daily astronomy photos. Enhance your night sky observations with comprehensive tools and information.

Interactive light pollution mapAurora borealis live map and alertsMeteor shower and super moon alerts
☀️ Weather
(188)
free with in-app purchases
18
SkySafari 7 Pro
SkySafari 7 Pro
SkySafari 7 Pro
Astronomy Guide To Night Sky
$29.99

Explore the night sky with an extensive astronomy database and advanced planning tools. Discover astronomical events, control your telescope, and connect with other stargazers in real-time.

Extensive celestial object databaseAdvanced event finderTelescope control (ASCOM Alpaca, INDI, StarSense)
🔍 Reference
(4.9K)
free with in-app purchases
19
StarryLens - Night Sky Camera
StarryLens - Night Sky Camera
StarryLens - Night Sky Camera
Astrophotography ｜ Star Trails
Free

Capture breathtaking night sky photos with advanced AI and specialized modes for star-filled skies and cityscapes. Enhance low-light images, reduce noise, and achieve sharp results even without a tripod. Offers HDR fusion and a user-friendly interface for all skill levels.

AI-enhanced low-light photographyStar Mode for clear starry skiesCity Mode for urban night scenes
📷 Photo & Video
(103)
freemium
20
Star Stacker
Star Stacker
Star Stacker
Create star trail images
$3.99

Create stunning star trail images and time-lapse videos from sequences of night sky photos. Offers various effects like full trails, faded trails, shooting stars, and warp mode. Supports importing photos from your device's gallery.

Create star trail imagesGenerate time-lapse videosFull trails effect
📷 Photo & Video
(80)
free

FAQ about Star Sky Scanner

What are the best star sky scanner apps for iPhone?
Sky Guide tops our star sky scanner apps ranking as of June 2026, with a 4.8-star average from 26K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 15 of the top star sky scanner apps we rank are free to download, including Sky Guide and Night Sky.
Sky Guide has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of June 2026.
We track 181+ star sky scanner apps on the iOS App Store as of June 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Sky Guide helps you identify celestial objects in the night sky. By holding your device up, it automatically recognizes stars, constellations, planets, and satellites. It uses augmented reality to overlay these figures onto your view of the real sky, making it easy to visualize and learn about the heavens.
Key features include automatic identification of celestial bodies, an AR mode for visualizing the sky, satellite tracking with notifications (like for the ISS), time travel controls to view past and future astronomical events, and a personalized calendar for events like eclipses. It also functions offline without Wi-Fi, cellular service, or GPS.