Is Memrise or SkySafari better?

Neither clearly leads. Memrise starts at Free and SkySafari at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, Memrise or SkySafari?

Memrise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Memrise and On request for SkySafari.

Does Memrise or SkySafari run on more platforms?

Memrise runs on iOS, Android, Web. SkySafari runs on iOS, Android, macOS.

Can I use Memrise for free?

Yes. Memrise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SkySafari starts at On request.

What is Memrise best used for?

Memrise is most often used for a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards, someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention, a traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluency, a learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in anki. Of those, a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards and someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention are not what SkySafari is typically brought in for.

What can Memrise do that SkySafari cannot?

Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Learn with Locals videos, Official courses, Speaking practice. SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Telescope control, Large object catalogue, Event finder.

Education · head to head

Memrise vs SkySafari

Memrise

Education

Vocabulary and spaced repetition language app built around video clips of native speakers

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

SkySafari

Education

Astronomy app sold in three tiered editions, from a cheap star chart to telescope control

From: On request
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Only Memrise has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: Memrise the free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.; SkySafari the three tiers are separate purchases, so upgrading from Basic to Plus or Pro later means buying again rather than paying the price difference.
They diverge on capability: Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, SkySafari covers Tiered editions.
Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Memrise and SkySafari actually diverge.

Attributes where Memrise and SkySafari differ
Attribute	Memrise	SkySafari
Starting price	Free	On request
Pricing model	Free with a Pro subscription	One-time purchase per tier
Free tier	Yes	No
Platforms	iOS, Android, Web	iOS, Android, macOS

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

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 Memrise

Spaced repetition flashcards
Learn with Locals videos
Official courses
Speaking practice
Offline mode
Grammar bot

Only in SkySafari

Tiered editions
Telescope control
Large object catalogue
Event finder
Observing log
Time control

What people use each for

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

Memrise

A learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcardsnot SkySafari
Someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting Memrise purely for vocabulary retentionnot SkySafari
A traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluencynot SkySafari
A learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in Ankinot SkySafari

SkySafari

An amateur astronomer with a motorised telescope mount who needs live control from a phone or tabletnot Memrise
A serious hobbyist who wants a deep-sky catalogue far larger than a casual sky map app providesnot Memrise
Someone planning an observing session who wants an event finder for conjunctions and eclipsesnot Memrise
A buyer choosing Basic first as a cheap star chart with no intention of telescope controlnot Memrise

Where each one falls short

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

Memrise

The free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.
Memrise phased out much of its earlier community-created course library in favour of official courses, so learners who relied on community decks for less common languages lost access to that content.
It teaches vocabulary and set phrases well but offers comparatively thin grammar instruction, so it works best as a companion to a grammar-focused course rather than a standalone method.
Language coverage for the flagship Learn with Locals video feature and speaking practice is uneven, concentrated in a handful of popular languages.
Unlike Anki, the spaced repetition algorithm and content are closed and cannot be customised or exported, so a learner cannot take their review data to another tool.

SkySafari

The three tiers are separate purchases, so upgrading from Basic to Plus or Pro later means buying again rather than paying the price difference.
Even the Basic tier costs more than a comparable free or freemium app like Star Walk 2 for a casual user.
Telescope control only works with compatible motorised mounts, so it is useless to someone with a manual telescope or no telescope at all.
Pricing fluctuates with frequent promotional sales, so the list price is not a reliable guide to what most buyers actually pay.
The interface, particularly on the Pro tier, has a steeper learning curve than a simple AR sky map app aimed at casual users.

Pricing, plan by plan

Memrise

Free

Memrise Pro$8.99/month
- Free tier allows basic vocabulary practice with daily limits and ads
- Pro unlocks Learn with Locals videos, full official courses and offline mode
- Annual Pro plans typically run $69.99 to $89.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing

SkySafari

On request

SkySafari Basic$4.99/one-time
- Core star chart
- Modest object catalogue
- No telescope control
SkySafari Plus$14.99/one-time
- About 2.5 million stars and 32,000 deep-sky objects
- Telescope control
- Event finder and observing log
SkySafari Pro$29.99/one-time
- Largest catalogue tier
- Telescope control
- Advanced observation planning tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Memrise if

You need spaced repetition flashcards.
You want to start without paying.
You work on iOS, Android, Web.
You also want learn with locals videos.

Memrise review

Choose SkySafari if

You need tiered editions.
You work on iOS, Android, macOS.
You also want telescope control.

SkySafari review

Questions people ask

Is Memrise or SkySafari better?: Neither clearly leads. Memrise starts at Free and SkySafari at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Memrise or SkySafari?: Memrise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Memrise and On request for SkySafari.
Does Memrise or SkySafari run on more platforms?: Memrise runs on iOS, Android, Web. SkySafari runs on iOS, Android, macOS.
Can I use Memrise for free?: Yes. Memrise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SkySafari starts at On request.
What is Memrise best used for?: Memrise is most often used for a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards, someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention, a traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluency, a learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in anki. Of those, a learner who wants vocabulary tied to real spoken usage through native speaker video rather than only text flashcards and someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting memrise purely for vocabulary retention are not what SkySafari is typically brought in for.
What can Memrise do that SkySafari cannot?: Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Learn with Locals videos, Official courses, Speaking practice. SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Telescope control, Large object catalogue, Event finder.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Memrise: Is Memrise free?

A limited amount of vocabulary practice is free with daily caps and ads. Learn with Locals videos, full courses and offline mode require Memrise Pro.

SkySafari: What is the difference between Basic, Plus and Pro?

Basic is a simple star chart, Plus adds a much larger catalogue and telescope control, and Pro adds an even larger catalogue and advanced planning tools.

Memrise: What is Learn with Locals?

Short video clips of native speakers using vocabulary and phrases in real settings, intended to show how language is actually spoken rather than textbook delivery.

SkySafari: Can I upgrade from Basic to Plus later?

Not as a discounted upgrade; each tier is sold as a separate one-time purchase.

Memrise: Can I still use community-created courses?

Memrise moved away from most of its earlier community course library toward its own official courses, so availability of community content is now limited.

SkySafari: Does it work with any telescope?

Only telescopes with compatible motorised mounts and a supported connection method can be controlled from the app.

Memrise vs SkySafari

Memrise

SkySafari

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Memrise

Only in SkySafari

What people use each for

Memrise

SkySafari

Where each one falls short

Memrise

SkySafari

Pricing, plan by plan

Memrise

SkySafari

Which should you pick?

Choose Memrise if

Choose SkySafari if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on Memrise

More on SkySafari

Keep looking

Other head to heads