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Education · head to head

Stellarium vs Wooclap

Stellarium logo

Stellarium

Education

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wooclap logo

Wooclap

Education

Make learning awesome with interactive questions

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.; Wooclap free Starter plan is capped at 5 questions per month
  • They diverge on capability: Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Wooclap covers Polls.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stellarium and Wooclap actually diverge.

Attributes where Stellarium and Wooclap differ
AttributeStellariumWooclap
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, PowerPoint Add-in
FoundedUnknown2015

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 Wooclap

  • Polls
  • Quizzes
  • Word clouds
  • Open questions
  • Rating
  • Brainstorming
  • Matching
  • AI question generation

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

Wooclap

  • Teachers and trainers running live interactive polling and quiz sessionsnot 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.

Wooclap

  • Free Starter plan is capped at 5 questions per month
  • All paid subscriptions are billed annually with no monthly option
  • Cancellation must be submitted at least 48 hours before the renewal date
  • Corporate plan requires a minimum of 6 presenters

Pricing, plan by plan

Stellarium

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

Wooclap

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 questions per event
    • Unlimited participants
    • Basic question types
  • Basic$6.99/month
    • Unlimited questions
    • PowerPoint integration
    • Export results
  • Pro$14.99/month
    • All Basic
    • AI assistant
    • Message wall
  • Institution$undefined/month
    • All Pro
    • SSO
    • LMS integration

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 Wooclap if

  • You need polls.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, PowerPoint Add-in.
  • You also want quizzes.
Wooclap review

Questions people ask

Is Stellarium or Wooclap better?
Neither clearly leads. Stellarium starts at Free and Wooclap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stellarium or Wooclap?
Stellarium starts at Free and Wooclap at Free.
Does Stellarium or Wooclap run on more platforms?
Stellarium runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Wooclap runs on Web, PowerPoint Add-in.
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 Wooclap is typically brought in for.
What can Stellarium do that Wooclap cannot?
Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Large object catalogue, Telescope control, Scripting engine. Wooclap covers Polls, Quizzes, Word clouds, Open questions.

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.

Wooclap: What pricing options does Wooclap offer?

Wooclap provides separate pricing structures for education and business sectors. Education plans range from single classrooms to entire campuses, while business plans scale from small teams to large organizations. Enterprise customers can request custom pricing by contacting the sales team.

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.

Wooclap: Is there a free trial available?

Yes, Wooclap offers a free sign-up option. The platform can be set up in minutes without requiring a credit card, allowing users to test the platform with over 20 question types before committing to a paid plan.

Source
Stellarium: What platforms does the free version run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux desktop.

Wooclap: What integrations does Wooclap support?

Wooclap integrates with popular tools including PowerPoint, Google Slides, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and major LMS platforms like Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, and Brightspace. Most popular integrations are available on standard plans, while some LMS integrations are reserved for custom plans.

Source
Wooclap: How is user data handled and protected?

Wooclap maintains a dedicated Trust Center addressing security, privacy, and compliance. The platform also provides an accessibility statement and child-friendly privacy policy, demonstrating commitment to data protection across different user groups.

Source
Wooclap: What support resources are available?

Wooclap offers a Help Center with comprehensive documentation, a blog with learning science articles, webinar sessions covering product features and use cases, and direct contact options for sales and support inquiries.

Source
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