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Education · head to head

Memrise vs Star Walk 2

Memrise logo

Memrise

Education

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Star Walk 2 logo

Star Walk 2

Education

Freemium stargazing app with a low-cost ad-free upgrade, aimed at casual sky watchers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Memrise the free tier caps daily reviews tightly enough that consistent vocabulary building in practice requires the Pro subscription.; Star Walk 2 its object catalogue is far smaller than SkySafari Pro, so it has little to offer once someone wants to go beyond naked-eye stargazing.
  • They diverge on capability: Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Star Walk 2 covers Augmented reality sky view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Memrise and Star Walk 2 actually diverge.

Attributes where Memrise and Star Walk 2 differ
AttributeMemriseStar Walk 2
Pricing modelFree with a Pro subscriptionFreemium, low-cost ad-free subscription upgrade
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android, macOS, Windows

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Star Walk 2

  • Augmented reality sky view
  • Time travel mode
  • Satellite tracking
  • Night mode
  • Meteor shower and event alerts
  • Ad-free Plus tier

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 Star Walk 2
  • Someone using a grammar-focused course elsewhere and wanting Memrise purely for vocabulary retentionnot Star Walk 2
  • A traveller wanting practical phrase recognition for a specific trip rather than formal fluencynot Star Walk 2
  • A learner comparing subscription convenience against building free custom decks in Ankinot Star Walk 2

Star Walk 2

  • A parent wanting a cheap, simple app to show a child the night skynot Memrise
  • A traveller who wants to identify stars and planets without a big subscription commitmentnot Memrise
  • A casual stargazer who does not need telescope control or a deep-sky cataloguenot Memrise
  • Someone wanting satellite pass tracking including the ISS on a budgetnot 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.

Star Walk 2

  • Its object catalogue is far smaller than SkySafari Pro, so it has little to offer once someone wants to go beyond naked-eye stargazing.
  • It has no telescope control, unlike SkySafari Plus and Pro, so it cannot drive a motorised mount.
  • The free tier carries ads, which some users find intrusive during a stargazing session.
  • It shares a visual style with many similar AR sky map apps, so its differentiation beyond price is limited.
  • Content depth for deep-sky objects and satellite catalogues lags noticeably behind Sky Guide Pro and SkySafari Pro.

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

Star Walk 2

Free
  • Star Walk 2Free
    • Core sky map and AR view
    • Ad-supported
  • Star Walk 2 Plus$5.99/year
    • Ads removed
    • Additional sky content

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 Star Walk 2 if

  • You need augmented reality sky view.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want time travel mode.
Star Walk 2 review

Questions people ask

Is Memrise or Star Walk 2 better?
Neither clearly leads. Memrise starts at Free and Star Walk 2 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Memrise or Star Walk 2?
Memrise starts at Free and Star Walk 2 at Free.
Does Memrise or Star Walk 2 run on more platforms?
Memrise runs on iOS, Android, Web. Star Walk 2 runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Memrise for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Star Walk 2 is typically brought in for.
What can Memrise do that Star Walk 2 cannot?
Memrise covers Spaced repetition flashcards, Learn with Locals videos, Official courses, Speaking practice. Star Walk 2 covers Augmented reality sky view, Time travel mode, Satellite tracking, Night mode.

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.

Star Walk 2: Is Star Walk 2 free?

A free ad-supported version exists; Star Walk 2 Plus removes ads and adds content for a low annual or monthly fee.

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.

Star Walk 2: Does it support telescope control?

No. For telescope control, SkySafari Plus or Pro is the better choice.

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.

Star Walk 2: How does it compare to SkySafari on price?

It is substantially cheaper, but with a much smaller star and deep-sky object catalogue.

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