SkySafari alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SkySafari: paid, with key features reserved for Plus and Pro, and extras such as orbit mode need a Premium membership. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SkySafari, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Stellarium currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Stellarium	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	5 of 5	66.5
2	Celestia	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +2	4 of 4	59.6

1. StellariumTop pick
Best for: Stargazers, teachers and amateur astronomers who want an accurate sky view for free
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from SkySafari
Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.
Pros
Free and open source, on all three desktop systems
Very large optional star and deep-sky catalogues
Telescope control and ocular simulation via plugins
Sky cultures and dome projection for teaching
Cons
Desktop app needs a 3D-capable graphics card
Ground-based view only, unlike Celestia's free space travel
Astrophotography tools are limited compared with KStars' Ekos
Visit Stellarium Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Stellarium a good SkySafari alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
License
GPL-2.0
Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Default star catalogue
600,000+ stars
Checked Oct 29, 2026stellarium.org(opens source in a new tab)
Extra catalogues
220 million+ stars
Checked Oct 29, 2026stellarium.org(opens source in a new tab)
Telescope control
Yes
Checked Oct 29, 2026stellarium.org(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Linux, Windows, macOS, Haiku
Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Celestia
Best for: Space enthusiasts and teachers who want to explore the universe in 3D rather than chart the night sky
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from SkySafari
Free 3D space simulator, also on iOS and Android, for exploring beyond Earth's sky.
Pros
Free travel anywhere from planets to other galaxies
Large library of community add-ons
Free and open source on desktop and mobile
Cons
Few tools for planning real observing sessions
Add-on installation is manual and dated
Slower release cadence than Stellarium or KStars
Visit Celestia Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Celestia a good SkySafari alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
GPL-2.0
Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android
Checked Nov 1, 2026celestiaproject.space(opens source in a new tab)
Star catalogue
100,000+ stars
Checked Nov 1, 2026celestiaproject.space(opens source in a new tab)
Mac App Store
Celestia 1.7.0
Checked Nov 1, 2026celestiaproject.space(opens source in a new tab)