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Education · head to head

SkySafari vs Udemy

SkySafari logo

SkySafari

Education

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Udemy logo

Udemy

Education

World's largest marketplace for online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Udemy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Udemy course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • They diverge on capability: SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Udemy covers Video courses.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SkySafari and Udemy actually diverge.

Attributes where SkySafari and Udemy differ
AttributeSkySafariUdemy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchase per tierUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOSWeb, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2010

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 SkySafari

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

Only in Udemy

  • Video courses
  • Quizzes
  • Assignments
  • Certificates
  • Mobile learning
  • Offline viewing
  • Q&A
  • Reviews

What people use each for

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

SkySafari

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

Udemy

  • Skill buildingnot SkySafari
  • Career transitionnot SkySafari
  • Professional developmentnot SkySafari
  • Team trainingnot SkySafari

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Udemy

  • Course quality varies significantly as Udemy allows anyone to create and sell courses without vetting
  • No formal credentials or degrees offered, unlike Coursera and edX which offer institution-branded certificates
  • Courses are self-paced with no instructor interaction or support, making structured learning difficult for some students

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Udemy

Free
  • Personal$19/month
    • 11,000+ courses access
  • Team$360/year
    • For 5-20 people

Which should you pick?

Choose SkySafari if

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

Choose Udemy if

  • You need video courses.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want quizzes.
Udemy review

Questions people ask

Is SkySafari or Udemy better?
Neither clearly leads. SkySafari starts at On request and Udemy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SkySafari or Udemy?
Udemy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for SkySafari and Free for Udemy.
Does SkySafari or Udemy run on more platforms?
SkySafari runs on iOS, Android, macOS. Udemy runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Udemy for free?
Yes. Udemy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SkySafari starts at On request.
What is SkySafari best used for?
SkySafari is most often used for an amateur astronomer with a motorised telescope mount who needs live control from a phone or tablet, a serious hobbyist who wants a deep-sky catalogue far larger than a casual sky map app provides, someone planning an observing session who wants an event finder for conjunctions and eclipses, a buyer choosing basic first as a cheap star chart with no intention of telescope control. Of those, an amateur astronomer with a motorised telescope mount who needs live control from a phone or tablet and a serious hobbyist who wants a deep-sky catalogue far larger than a casual sky map app provides are not what Udemy is typically brought in for.
What can SkySafari do that Udemy cannot?
SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Telescope control, Large object catalogue, Event finder. Udemy covers Video courses, Quizzes, Assignments, Certificates.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Udemy: Does Udemy offer team/business pricing?

Yes, Udemy's Team plan costs $360 per user annually for groups of 5 to 20 people, in addition to individual Personal plan at $19/month.

Source
SkySafari: Can I upgrade from Basic to Plus later?

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

SkySafari: Does it work with any telescope?

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

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