SkySafari
SkySafari: A paid astronomy app with strong telescope control, planning, and astrophotography tools. Ranked #10 of 34 in Astronomy Apps by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: From $6.99; best for serious observers wanting broad telescope tools.
At a glance
- Editor score6.8 / 10
- PricingFrom $6.99
- Best forSerious observers wanting broad telescope tools
- Free planNo
- Offline accessYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Offline sky content with augmented-reality identification and simulation
- Telescope control, alignment, observing lists, and logging
- Plate solving and astrophotography tools in higher editions
Where it doesn't
- No free plan or free entry tier
- Key telescope and imaging features require Plus or Pro
- Web and macOS availability varies by edition or LiveSky
Our verdict on SkySafari
SkySafari is a planetarium and astronomy app for casual stargazers, amateur astronomers, and astrophotographers. It combines a planetarium sky chart with celestial-object search, augmented-reality viewing, sky simulation, night vision, event and space-mission information, and offline access to core astronomy content. The app is available on iOS and Android, with web and macOS capabilities documented for certain editions. Its broad feature set makes it a fit for observers who want one tool for identifying objects, planning sessions, controlling a telescope, and working with astrophotography images.
The three one-time plans separate basic sky exploration from equipment and imaging workflows. SkySafari 8 Basic costs $6.99 and includes point-and-identify charts, augmented reality, sky simulation, night vision, an image gallery, and AstroBin integration. SkySafari 8 Plus costs $29.99 and adds expanded star and deep-sky catalogs, wired and wireless telescope control, observing lists and logging, image importing and plate solving, and Orbit mode. SkySafari 8 Pro costs $49.99 and adds expanded professional astronomy catalogs, ASCOM Alpaca and INDI support, native Alpaca camera control, built-in plate solving, and advanced observing and imaging tools. The one-time pricing keeps access straightforward, but there is no free plan.
Telescope and ecosystem support are central strengths for serious observers. Depending on the edition, SkySafari supports GoTo and alignment workflows, StarSense Explorer, ASCOM Alpaca, INDI, AstroBin, and LiveSky. Its planning, filtering, sorting, logging, image pinning, and plate-solving features extend the app beyond simple object identification. The main choice is therefore feature depth versus price: Basic suits sky exploration, Plus fits observers adding telescope control and planning, and Pro is aimed at advanced catalogs and imaging. Buyers needing only a free introductory sky app should choose an alternative; observers seeking broad telescope and astrophotography tools should consider SkySafari.
SkySafari pricing
All 3 SkySafari plans and prices →
SkySafari fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Offline access | Yes |
| Platform coverage | Mobile |
| AR sky view | Yes |
| Telescope control | Yes |
| Mission tracking | Yes |
| Catalog size | Not verified |
| Learning content | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: ASCOM Alpaca, INDI, StarSense Explorer, AstroBin, LiveSky |
| Pricing | From $6.99 (source) |
| Website | skysafariastronomy.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
SkySafari integrations
SkySafari lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- ASCOM Alpaca
- INDI
- StarSense Explorer
- AstroBin
- LiveSky
Alternatives to SkySafari
- StellariumA capable free desktop planetarium with telescope control, scripting, and offline access.9.0
- KStarsA capable free desktop toolkit for sky simulation, planning, and astrophotography.8.2
- WorldWide TelescopeA free, open-source astronomy platform for visualization, tours, and telescope projects.8.2
See all SkySafari alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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