Star maps have earned steadily for years. On October 16, 2026 Sky Guide was number 18 in the US top grossing Reference chart and makes $608K–2.43M a month by our estimate (not Apple data). Star catalogs and satellite orbits are open, and the real work is a reliable compass and a simple answer to "what is that bright dot".
How much sky map apps make
On October 16, 2026 Sky Guide was number 18 in the US top grossing Reference chart and Night Sky number 25. Sky Tonight missed the top 100 that day, its highest position since Sep 24, 2026 was number 85.
| App | Released | US ratings | Price | Top grossing rank | Monthly revenue, our estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Guide | May 6, 2013 | 377,092 | free | #18 | $608K–2.43M |
| Night Sky | Nov 1, 2011 | 497,202 | free | #25 | $410K–1.64M |
| Sky Tonight | Aug 18, 2021 | 76,116 | free | outside top 100 | $214K–857K |
| Stellarium Mobile (in Education) | Apr 7, 2019 | 38,514 | free | outside top 100 | $495K–1.98M App Store sales not confirmed by the charts |
| Star Gazer | Oct 16, 2024 | 1,556 | free | #85 | too few new ratings to estimate |
| Star Walk 2 Pro | Aug 21, 2014 | 67,281 | $2.99 | outside top 100 | paid, $2.99, no estimate |
| SkyView | Dec 10, 2010 | 7,702 | $2.99 | outside top 100 | paid, $2.99, no estimate |
| SkySafari | Dec 22, 2017 | 17,911 | $4.99 | outside top 100 | paid, $4.99, no estimate |
Appto data as of October 16, 2026. Rating growth September 16 to October 16, 2026. Rating counts and chart positions from the US App Store on October 16, 2026. Revenue is our estimate, not Apple data.
Night Sky has 497,202 ratings, more than Sky Guide, yet makes less by our estimate, $410K–1.64M a month. Stellarium carries a note, it was not in the grossing charts, though its ratings grow fast.
Paid versions sell here
The sky is one of the few shelves where a one-time purchase ranks high. SkyView at $2.99 was number 2 in the US paid Education chart on Oct 1, 2026 and number 22 among all paid apps on Oct 8, 2026. SkySafari at $4.99 was number 4 in paid Reference on Oct 8, 2026, and SkySafari 8 Pro sells for $34.99.
Newcomers exist, with small money. Star Gazer launched on October 16, 2024, has 1,556 ratings, and was number 85 in grossing Reference on October 16, 2026.
Where stars, planets and satellites come from
- Stars. The European Space Agency's Hipparcos catalog, 118,218 stars, open since 1997 (ESA page). A few thousand bright ones are enough for a backyard sky.
- Planets and the Moon. Positions are computed with formulas right on the phone, no network needed.
- The ISS and satellites. CelesTrak publishes orbital elements for free (celestrak.org). A pass over the person's location is computed on the device with the SGP4 model, and the elements should be refreshed daily.
The hardest part is where the phone points. CMDeviceMotion gives the attitude in the xTrueNorthZVertical frame, but metal and magnetic cases throw the compass off. Add a calibration hint and a manual fix by dragging the sky with a finger.
What goes into version 1
- Point and see. Raise the phone and see labels of stars, planets and constellations where you look.
- Visible tonight. A short evening list with moonrise and planet rise times.
- ISS pass. The time, direction and how many seconds it stays visible, with a reminder.
- Red screen. A night mode that keeps your eyes adapted to the dark.
- Works offline. The catalog ships inside the app, only orbits get updated.
How sky map apps charge
Sky Guide, Night Sky and Sky Tonight are free to download (US App Store, October 16, 2026) and sell subscriptions for deep sky objects and alerts. Paid versions at a few dollars live next to them. For a newcomer, a one-time purchase with a clear list of what is inside is a reasonable start.
Risks
- Compass accuracy. If the labels drift, the app looks broken. It is the first thing people check.
- Light pollution. A city sky shows a few dozen stars. Object selection should account for where the person stands.
- Strong incumbents. Sky Guide and Night Sky have hundreds of thousands of ratings, and a newcomer won't rank next to them for "star map".
How we counted
Appto estimates revenue from 30 days of App Store rating growth, before Apple's commission. It is our estimate, not Apple data. In half of the cases the estimate is within 2x of the real figure, in four out of five within 3x, and for large apps it tends to run low. Ads, web sales and Google Play are not included. The method is explained in our article on estimating app revenue.
Next steps
In the book 50 iPhone App Niches the night sky map is niche 23 and ISS and satellite passes are niche 10, each with an angle for a newcomer, the version 1 screens and a task for the agent.
Before you start you can recheck the niche in Appto. Appto pulls fresh App Store data, designs the screens and writes the code with the agent, builds the App Store page and submits the app to Apple from your account or shows you what to press in App Store Connect.
Questions
How much do star map apps make?
By our estimate as of October 16, 2026, Sky Guide makes $608K–2.43M a month, Night Sky $410K–1.64M and Sky Tonight $214K–857K. It is an estimate from App Store rating growth, not Apple data.
Where can I get a star catalog?
ESA's Hipparcos catalog has been open since 1997 and lists 118,218 stars. Apps usually take a few thousand bright stars from it.
How do I know when the ISS passes over?
CelesTrak publishes orbital elements for free. The pass over a location is computed on the phone from them, and daily updates are enough.
Do paid star map apps sell?
Yes. SkyView at $2.99 was number 2 in US paid Education on Oct 1, 2026, and SkySafari at $4.99 number 4 in paid Reference.
Does it need the internet?
Not for stars and planets, the phone computes them. The network is only needed for fresh satellite orbits.
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