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Open edX vs Sky Guide

Open edX logo

Open edX

Education

Open-source platform powering online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sky Guide logo

Sky Guide

Education

iOS astronomy app that moved from a one-time purchase to a free-to-download, subscription-tiered model

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Open edX no license fees for software but requires separate spending on hosting, infrastructure, and maintenance; Sky Guide it is iOS-only, unlike SkySafari which also covers Android and desktop.
  • They diverge on capability: Open edX covers Course authoring, Sky Guide covers Light pollution forecasting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Open edX and Sky Guide actually diverge.

Attributes where Open edX and Sky Guide differ
AttributeOpen edXSky Guide
Pricing modelfreeFree download with Plus and Pro subscription upgrades
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidiOS
Founded2012Unknown

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 Open edX

  • Course authoring
  • Interactive videos
  • Assessments
  • Discussions
  • Certificates
  • Analytics
  • Mobile apps
  • xBlocks

Only in Sky Guide

  • Light pollution forecasting
  • Meteor shower prediction
  • Camera and gyroscope sky view
  • Deep-sky object catalogue
  • Extreme zoom
  • Satellite tracking

What people use each for

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

Open edX

  • MOOC creationnot Sky Guide
  • Corporate trainingnot Sky Guide
  • Blended learningnot Sky Guide
  • Degree programsnot Sky Guide

Sky Guide

  • An iOS stargazer who wants light pollution forecasting to plan a dark-sky observing tripnot Open edX
  • Someone tracking meteor showers and wanting a forecast of viewing conditionsnot Open edX
  • A user who wants extreme zoom into deep-sky objects without owning a telescopenot Open edX
  • A buyer comparing subscription astronomy apps on iOS specifically, rather than cross-platform toolsnot Open edX

Where each one falls short

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

Open edX

  • No license fees for software but requires separate spending on hosting, infrastructure, and maintenance
  • Customization and support from third-party providers requires additional investment

Sky Guide

  • It is iOS-only, unlike SkySafari which also covers Android and desktop.
  • It has moved from one-time purchase to a subscription model, and long-time users who paid once for earlier versions have criticised the change publicly.
  • Pro tier pricing is high relative to Star Walk 2 for broadly similar core stargazing functionality.
  • It has no telescope control, unlike SkySafari Plus and Pro, which limits it to naked-eye and camera-based observing.
  • Its relationship to other apps under the same distribution platform is not clearly documented, which makes long-term support commitments harder to assess.

Pricing, plan by plan

Open edX

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Full platform
    • Community support
    • All features
  • Managed Hosting$undefined/month
    • Hosted solution
    • Support
    • Maintenance

Sky Guide

Free
  • Sky GuideFree
    • Base sky map and object labelling
  • Sky Guide Plus$19.99/year
    • Larger star and satellite catalogue
    • Light pollution forecasting
    • Meteor shower prediction
  • Sky Guide Pro$39.99/year
    • Very large deep-sky object catalogue
    • Exoplanet data
    • Extreme zoom

Which should you pick?

Choose Open edX if

  • You need course authoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive videos.
Open edX review

Choose Sky Guide if

  • You need light pollution forecasting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS.
  • You also want meteor shower prediction.
Sky Guide review

Questions people ask

Is Open edX or Sky Guide better?
Neither clearly leads. Open edX starts at Free and Sky Guide at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Open edX or Sky Guide?
Open edX starts at Free and Sky Guide at Free.
Does Open edX or Sky Guide run on more platforms?
Open edX runs on Web, IOS, Android. Sky Guide runs on iOS.
Can I use Open edX for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Open edX best used for?
Open edX is most often used for mooc creation, corporate training, blended learning, degree programs. Of those, mooc creation and corporate training are not what Sky Guide is typically brought in for.
What can Open edX do that Sky Guide cannot?
Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Discussions. Sky Guide covers Light pollution forecasting, Meteor shower prediction, Camera and gyroscope sky view, Deep-sky object catalogue.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Open edX: How much does Open edX cost?

Open edX software itself is completely free with no license fees. Organizations must cover their own hosting, infrastructure, maintenance, and customization costs.

Source
Sky Guide: Is Sky Guide free?

The base app is free to download; Plus and Pro are subscription upgrades for a larger catalogue and forecasting features.

Open edX: Are there hosting options for Open edX?

Open edX offers three deployment options: self-hosted (organizations deploy independently), managed providers (third-party companies offer cost-effective managed services), and a free sandbox for testing.

Source
Sky Guide: Did Sky Guide used to be a one-time purchase?

Yes, earlier versions were sold as a one-time purchase before it moved to the current free-plus-subscription model.

Open edX: What does free mean for Open edX?

There are no license fees to use the Open edX software. Organizations can download and deploy it independently or use managed hosting providers for a fee.

Source
Sky Guide: Does Sky Guide support telescope control?

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

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