Compare software

Cartes du Ciel (SkyChart)KStars
Free

Free software under the GPL.

 Free

Free and open source from the KDE community.

Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Uses many star and deep-sky catalogues
  • Shows planets, asteroids and comets
  • Sky simulation with up to 100 million stars, plus comets and asteroids
  • Observation planner and calculation tools such as conjunction prediction
  • The number of settings can overwhelm casual stargazers
  • Interface is functional rather than polished
  • The large feature set takes time to learn
  • Some information and imagery features rely on internet resources
Downloadable app Downloadable app
Open source Open source
License: GPL License not stated
No account needed No account needed
Works offline Not stated if it works offline

Checked October 2, 2026

Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.