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Education · head to head

SkySafari vs Stellarium

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
Stellarium logo

Stellarium

Education

Free open source desktop planetarium software, distinct from the paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Stellarium 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.; Stellarium it is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • They diverge on capability: SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SkySafari and Stellarium actually diverge.

Attributes where SkySafari and Stellarium differ
AttributeSkySafariStellarium
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchase per tierOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOSWindows, macOS, Linux

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
  • Event finder
  • Observing log
  • Time control

Only in Stellarium

  • Photorealistic sky rendering
  • Scripting engine
  • Free and open source
  • Plugin ecosystem

Both cover

  • Telescope control
  • Large object catalogue

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

Stellarium

  • A student or educator wanting a serious, scriptable planetarium tool without a budget line itemnot SkySafari
  • An amateur astronomer wanting telescope control from desktop software they can inspect and modifynot SkySafari
  • Someone running a planetarium display or public astronomy event on a scripted shownot SkySafari
  • A hobbyist who wants a large object catalogue without paying a subscription, and does not need a phone appnot 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.

Stellarium

  • It is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, support is community-based rather than a guaranteed commercial help desk.
  • The interface, while capable, is less immediately intuitive for a first-time user than a polished commercial phone app.
  • Telescope control and some advanced plugins require additional setup that a non-technical user may find fiddly.
  • Because it shares a name with the unrelated paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app, buyers researching pricing online can easily conflate the two products.

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

Stellarium

Free
  • Stellarium DesktopFree
    • Full software, GPL licensed
    • No account, ads or subscription
    • Community-developed plugins

Which should you pick?

Choose SkySafari if

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

Choose Stellarium if

  • You need photorealistic sky rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want scripting engine.
Stellarium review

Questions people ask

Is SkySafari or Stellarium better?
Neither clearly leads. SkySafari starts at On request and Stellarium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SkySafari or Stellarium?
Stellarium has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for SkySafari and Free for Stellarium.
Does SkySafari or Stellarium run on more platforms?
SkySafari runs on iOS, Android, macOS. Stellarium runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Stellarium for free?
Yes. Stellarium 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 Stellarium is typically brought in for.
What can SkySafari do that Stellarium cannot?
SkySafari covers Tiered editions, Event finder, Observing log, Time control. Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Scripting engine, Free and open source, Plugin ecosystem. Both handle Telescope control, Large object catalogue.

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.

Stellarium: Is Stellarium really free?

The desktop software is free and open source under the GPL licence. The separate mobile app, Stellarium Mobile Plus, is a different paid product.

SkySafari: Can I upgrade from Basic to Plus later?

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

Stellarium: Is the mobile app made by the same team?

No. Stellarium Mobile Plus is built by Noctua Software, a different company, and is sold on subscription.

SkySafari: Does it work with any telescope?

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

Stellarium: What platforms does the free version run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux desktop.

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