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Education · head to head

Stellarium vs Wakelet

Stellarium logo

Stellarium

Education

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wakelet logo

Wakelet

Education

Save, organize, and share content for learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Wakelet free Starter plan caps at 3 collections, 250 items and 1GB storage
  • They diverge on capability: Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Wakelet covers Content curation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stellarium and Wakelet actually diverge.

Attributes where Stellarium and Wakelet differ
AttributeStellariumWakelet
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, IOS, Android, Chrome Extension
FoundedUnknown2012

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 Stellarium

  • Photorealistic sky rendering
  • Large object catalogue
  • Telescope control
  • Scripting engine
  • Free and open source
  • Plugin ecosystem

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.

Stellarium

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

Wakelet

  • Teachers and schools curating multimedia collections and student portfoliosnot Stellarium

Where each one falls short

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

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.

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

Stellarium

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

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 Stellarium if

  • You need photorealistic sky rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want large object catalogue.
Stellarium 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 Stellarium or Wakelet better?
Neither clearly leads. Stellarium starts at Free and Wakelet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stellarium or Wakelet?
Stellarium starts at Free and Wakelet at Free.
Does Stellarium or Wakelet run on more platforms?
Stellarium runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Wakelet runs on Web, IOS, Android, Chrome Extension.
Can I use Stellarium for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Stellarium best used for?
Stellarium is most often used for a student or educator wanting a serious, scriptable planetarium tool without a budget line item, an amateur astronomer wanting telescope control from desktop software they can inspect and modify, someone running a planetarium display or public astronomy event on a scripted show, a hobbyist who wants a large object catalogue without paying a subscription, and does not need a phone app. Of those, a student or educator wanting a serious, scriptable planetarium tool without a budget line item and an amateur astronomer wanting telescope control from desktop software they can inspect and modify are not what Wakelet is typically brought in for.
What can Stellarium do that Wakelet cannot?
Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Large object catalogue, Telescope control, Scripting engine. Wakelet covers Content curation, Collections, Collaboration, Embedding.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

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
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.

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
Stellarium: What platforms does the free version run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux desktop.

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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