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.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand.
Price
$2.99 once
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.7★ (7,296)
Version
1.6.7
Last updated
Dec 28, 2023
Released
Sep 24, 2015
Attributes
Native appOne-time purchaseNo subscription
Category
Education, Reference
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Ease of use and design8 reviews
Notifications and reminders2 reviews
Complained about
Confusing interface2 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls2 reviews
Notifications and reminders2 reviews
Crashes and stability2 reviews
Where this comes from
8 of 200 recent reviews raised: Ease of use and design (positive)App Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Confusing interface (negative)App Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywalls (negative)App Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stability (negative)App Store reviews ›
A 3D model of the solar system rather than a map of the sky overheadApp 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.
$6.99 once · 4.7★ (17,923) · Updated Sep 1, 2026
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.