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Education · head to head

SkySafari vs Wakelet

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
Wakelet logo

Wakelet

Education

Save, organize, and share content for learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Wakelet 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.; Wakelet free Starter plan caps at 3 collections, 250 items and 1GB storage
  • They diverge on capability: SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Wakelet covers Content curation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SkySafari and Wakelet actually diverge.

Attributes where SkySafari and Wakelet differ
AttributeSkySafariWakelet
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchase per tierfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOSWeb, IOS, Android, Chrome Extension
FoundedUnknown2012

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 Wakelet

  • Content curation
  • Collections
  • Collaboration
  • Embedding
  • PDF export
  • Customization
  • Spaces
  • Comments

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 Wakelet
  • A serious hobbyist who wants a deep-sky catalogue far larger than a casual sky map app providesnot Wakelet
  • Someone planning an observing session who wants an event finder for conjunctions and eclipsesnot Wakelet
  • A buyer choosing Basic first as a cheap star chart with no intention of telescope controlnot Wakelet

Wakelet

  • Teachers and schools curating multimedia collections and student portfoliosnot 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.

Wakelet

  • Free Starter plan caps at 3 collections, 250 items and 1GB storage
  • Education Group plan is billed annually at $160/year for only 1 teacher and 30 students, with extra teachers at $40/year and extra students at $4/year
  • Group plan requires a minimum of 2 seats at $119.99 per seat per year
  • Enterprise plan is yearly billing only

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

Wakelet

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited collections
    • Collaboration
    • Embedding
  • Pro$4.99/month
    • Custom branding
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support
  • EducationFree
    • All Free
    • Spaces
    • Rostering

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 Wakelet if

  • You need content curation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, Chrome Extension.
  • You also want collections.
Wakelet review

Questions people ask

Is SkySafari or Wakelet better?
Neither clearly leads. SkySafari starts at On request and Wakelet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SkySafari or Wakelet?
Wakelet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for SkySafari and Free for Wakelet.
Does SkySafari or Wakelet run on more platforms?
SkySafari runs on iOS, Android, macOS. Wakelet runs on Web, IOS, Android, Chrome Extension.
Can I use Wakelet for free?
Yes. Wakelet 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 Wakelet is typically brought in for.
What can SkySafari do that Wakelet cannot?
SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Telescope control, Large object catalogue, Event finder. Wakelet covers Content curation, Collections, Collaboration, Embedding.

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.

Wakelet: Does Wakelet offer a free plan?

Yes, Wakelet provides a complimentary plan to begin creating collections. "Paid plans are available for individuals, groups, schools, and organizations that need more space and features."

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.

Wakelet: What types of content can I save in Wakelet?

You can capture "links, files, images, videos, notes, and content" from various platforms and organize them into visual collections for easy access and sharing.

Source
SkySafari: Does it work with any telescope?

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

Wakelet: Is there customer support available?

Yes, support resources are provided including a Help Centre and the ability to contact support directly through their ticketing system for assistance with account or product questions.

Source
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