Verdict
SkySafari is easy to use and well-liked for its interface, but the review pattern shows a real tension: many buyers hit in-app pop-ups, promos, and even subscription prompts for features beyond the base purchase, despite this listing being a one-time charge.
Best for
Someone who wants a simple, easy-to-navigate stargazing app for casual sky-watching and doesn't plan to chase upgrades or premium tiers within it.
Dealbreaker
Multiple reviewers report in-app promos, upgrade nags, and even subscription paywalls for extra features layered on top of the initial purchase.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand.
Price
$6.99 once
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.7★ (17,923)
Version
8.1.1
Last updated
Sep 1, 2026
Released
Dec 22, 2017
Attributes
Native appOne-time purchaseNo subscription
Category
Reference, Education
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Ease of use and design13 reviews
Notifications and reminders3 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls2 reviews
Battery and performance2 reviews
Complained about
Subscription pricing and paywalls12 reviews
Notifications and reminders5 reviews
Too expensive4 reviews
Crashes and stability4 reviews
Misses some ads2 reviews
Confusing interface2 reviews
Where this comes from
13 of 200 recent reviews raised: Ease of use and designApp Store reviews ›
12 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywallsApp Store reviews ›
5 of 200 recent reviews raised: Notifications and remindersApp Store reviews ›
4 of 200 recent reviews raised: Too expensiveApp Store reviews ›
4 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
Listed at $6.99 once on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
Stargazing apps you buy once ›Sky maps and planetarium apps that charge once instead of monthly, each with its catch.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is a single purchase. None of them can start charging you monthly for what you already bought. Also with a catch.
$2.99 once · 4.7★ (67,170) · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Verdict. Star Walk 2 gets praised for its visuals and accurate sky tracking, with alert notifications for upcoming celestial events being a standout feature. Some users find the interface confusing and the notification system hard to turn off, though most reviewers rate it highly.
Best for. Someone who wants to point their phone at the night sky and get a beautiful, labeled view of stars and planets, plus alerts for upcoming events worth watching.
Dealbreaker. Several reviewers found the interface confusing and struggled to turn off notifications that others found intrusive.
$2.99 once · 4.7★ (7,296) · Updated Dec 28, 2023
Verdict. Not a sky map at all — a three-dimensional model of the solar system you can fly around and wind forwards through time.
Best for. Explaining orbits to a child, or to yourself, rather than finding anything overhead.
Dealbreaker. It will not help you identify what is above you tonight, and reviewers report parts of it sitting behind a further subscription despite the purchase.