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Webinars · head to head

Google Meet vs Stellarium

Google Meet logo

Google Meet

Webinars

Get on a video call in seconds

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stellarium logo

Stellarium

Education

Free open source desktop planetarium software, distinct from the paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Meet google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option; Stellarium it is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Meet covers Video conferencing, Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Meet and Stellarium actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Meet and Stellarium differ
AttributeGoogle MeetStellarium
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, MobileWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryWebinarsEducation
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Meet

  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • Recording
  • Chat
  • Real-time captions
  • Hand raise
  • Grid view
  • Google Calendar

Only in Stellarium

  • Photorealistic sky rendering
  • Large object catalogue
  • Telescope control
  • Scripting engine
  • Free and open source
  • Plugin ecosystem

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Meet

  • Video conferencing for remote teamsnot Stellarium
  • Educational virtual classroomsnot Stellarium
  • Large-scale webinars with up to 1,000 participantsnot Stellarium

Stellarium

  • A student or educator wanting a serious, scriptable planetarium tool without a budget line itemnot Google Meet
  • An amateur astronomer wanting telescope control from desktop software they can inspect and modifynot Google Meet
  • Someone running a planetarium display or public astronomy event on a scripted shownot Google Meet
  • A hobbyist who wants a large object catalogue without paying a subscription, and does not need a phone appnot Google Meet

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Meet

  • Google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option
  • Starter plan limits Meet to 100 participants; Standard tier required for 150 participants
  • Organisation-wide user cap of 300 users on Starter, Standard, and Plus plans
  • Enterprise tier requires custom pricing and sales contact; no transparent per-user cost
  • Free tier (from basic Google account) limits meetings to 60 minutes with 3+ participants

Stellarium

  • It is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, support is community-based rather than a guaranteed commercial help desk.
  • The interface, while capable, is less immediately intuitive for a first-time user than a polished commercial phone app.
  • Telescope control and some advanced plugins require additional setup that a non-technical user may find fiddly.
  • Because it shares a name with the unrelated paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app, buyers researching pricing online can easily conflate the two products.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Meet

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 100 participants
    • Up to 60 minutes per meeting
  • Google Workspace Starter$4.76/month
    • Up to 100 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
  • Google Workspace Standard$9.52/month
    • Up to 150 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
    • Recording capability
  • Google Workspace Plus$14.77/month
    • Up to 500 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
    • Attendance tracking

Stellarium

Free
  • Stellarium DesktopFree
    • Full software, GPL licensed
    • No account, ads or subscription
    • Community-developed plugins

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Meet if

  • You need video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want screen sharing.
Google Meet review

Choose Stellarium if

  • You need photorealistic sky rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want large object catalogue.
Stellarium review

Questions people ask

Is Google Meet or Stellarium better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Meet starts at Free and Stellarium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Meet or Stellarium?
Google Meet starts at Free and Stellarium at Free.
Does Google Meet or Stellarium run on more platforms?
Google Meet runs on Web, Mobile. Stellarium runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Google Meet for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Meet best used for?
Google Meet is most often used for video conferencing for remote teams, educational virtual classrooms, large-scale webinars with up to 1,000 participants. Of those, video conferencing for remote teams and educational virtual classrooms are not what Stellarium is typically brought in for.
What can Google Meet do that Stellarium cannot?
Google Meet covers Video conferencing, Screen sharing, Recording, Chat. Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Large object catalogue, Telescope control, Scripting engine.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Meet: What are the participant limits in Google Meet's free plan?

The free version of Google Meet allows up to 100 participants per meeting. One-on-one calls and mobile calls have unlimited duration, but group meetings are limited to 60 minutes.

Source
Stellarium: Is Stellarium really free?

The desktop software is free and open source under the GPL licence. The separate mobile app, Stellarium Mobile Plus, is a different paid product.

Google Meet: How long can meetings last on paid Google Workspace plans?

All paid Google Workspace plans (Starter, Standard, Plus, Enterprise) support up to 24-hour meeting durations, removing the 60-minute limit of the free tier.

Source
Stellarium: Is the mobile app made by the same team?

No. Stellarium Mobile Plus is built by Noctua Software, a different company, and is sold on subscription.

Google Meet: What participant limits apply to different Google Workspace tiers?

Starter tier supports 100 participants, Standard supports 150, Plus supports 500, and Enterprise tier supports up to 1,000 participants for in-domain live streaming.

Source
Stellarium: What platforms does the free version run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux desktop.

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