AppBreakup
Submit an app

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

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Stellarium logoStellariumOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +15 of 566.5
  1. Stellarium logo

    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)

The best SkySafari alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Stellarium logo

Best SkySafari alternative for most people

Stellarium

Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.

Celestia logo

Best SkySafari alternative for a free option

Celestia

Free 3D space simulator, also on iOS and Android, for exploring beyond Earth's sky.

Stellarium logo

Best SkySafari alternative for open source

Stellarium

Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.

Stellarium logo

Best SkySafari alternative for Mac

Stellarium

Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.

Stellarium logo

Best SkySafari alternative for Windows

Stellarium

Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.

Stellarium logo

Best SkySafari alternative for Linux

Stellarium

Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.

Celestia logo

Best SkySafari alternative for iPhone and Android

Celestia

Free 3D space simulator, also on iOS and Android, for exploring beyond Earth's sky.

Stellarium logo

Best SkySafari alternative for working in the browser

Stellarium

Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.

SkySafari alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SkySafari?

Stellarium ranks first right now. Free open-source planetarium for desktop, with telescope control through a plugin.

Is there a free alternative to SkySafari?

Yes. Stellarium (open source) and Celestia (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to SkySafari?

Yes: Stellarium and Celestia.

Which SkySafari alternatives work on Linux?

Stellarium and Celestia run on Linux.

Why do people switch from SkySafari?

The complaints we hear most: paid, with key features reserved for Plus and Pro; extras such as orbit mode need a Premium membership; no desktop version for Windows or Linux.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces SkySafari, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.