Should you build a product in this niche? An answer from the numbers: search demand, competitors, napkin economics and what to build first.
Updated · How TGGET measures a niche
Verdict · confidence: medium
Go. The niche has high search demand (27,100) and open search results (3/3 weak SERPs), making entry feasible. However, the trend is declining (-0.7 YoY) and the app store is contested by giants. The decision is 'go' with medium confidence because the open search and affordable CPC ($0.96) offset the declining interest and high competition in stores. The primary opportunity is capturing users dissatisfied with the aggressive monetization and AI clutter in top apps like Night Sky.
| Factor | Value | Level | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demand | 27,100 searches a month | high | +1 |
| Change over a year | -70% over a year | declining | -1 |
| App store | 14 of 46 apps with 10,000+ ratings, median 1,753 ratings | contested | 0 |
| Search results | 3 of 3 checked search results are weak, 0 strong | open | +1 |
| Paid traffic | $0.96 a click, people pay in this niche | affordable | +1 |
Sum of scores: +2. The verdict is computed by rules from the numbers of the research; its explanation is written by the model.
Source: TGGET, researched on 27 September 2026.
Entry point: "free stargazing app": 1,600 searches a month, weak search results.
Positioning
A clean, ad-free, and intuitive stargazing app that prioritizes accurate sky identification over upsells and AI clutter.
For whom: Beginners and casual stargazers who want a simple, free, or low-cost tool without intrusive ads or complex interfaces.
Main job: Identify celestial objects in real-time without distraction or paywalls.
Platform
IOS+ANDROID
Monetization: Freemium with optional subscription for advanced features · Top competitors are free with in-app purchases or subscriptions; users complain about high prices, suggesting a lower-cost or ad-free premium tier is viable.
1Users are frustrated by high prices and unexpected charges in free apps. strong
Evidence: 4 complaints about pricing ('Not worth the $60+ price', 'charged me too when I didn’t even try to purchase it')
What the product does: Transparent freemium model with clear free tier limits.
2Users hate intrusive ads and AI-generated content that ruins the experience. strong
Evidence: 5 complaints about ads and AI ('Filled with junk', 'density of ai and ads override the value', 'ai slop')
What the product does: Ad-free experience or non-intrusive, relevant ads only.
3Users find the UI unintuitive and the AR accuracy poor. medium
Evidence: 3 complaints about UI and accuracy ('Unintuitive UI', 'map can’t figure out where i’m actually looking')
What the product does: Simplified UI with one-tap identification and calibrated AR.
4Users want to identify specific events like meteor showers without paying. weak
Evidence: 2 phrases with intent ('stargazing app for meteor shower')
What the product does: Event-specific alerts and guides in the free tier.
| Feature | Pain | Priority | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time sky identification via camera | №3 | must | Addresses the core job of identifying objects and the pain of poor AR accuracy |
| Ad-free or minimal ad experience | №2 | must | Directly addresses the top complaint about ads and AI clutter |
| Simple, one-tap UI for beginners | №3 | must | Addresses the pain of unintuitive interfaces |
| Transparent freemium pricing | №1 | should | Addresses the pain of unexpected charges and high prices |
| Meteor shower and event alerts | №4 | later | Targets high-intent informational queries |
| Competitor | Type | Pricing | App | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stellarium-labs.com Home | Stellarium Labs | site | no | no | — |
| starwalk.space Приложение для наблюдения за звездным небом | Астрономия для всех | Изучение ночного неба | site | no | yes | — |
| Night Sky iCandi Apps Ltd. | App Store | free | yes | 4.7 · 495,836 |
| Sky Guide Fifth Star Labs LLC | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 374,777 |
| Star Walk 2 Plus: Live Sky Map Vito Technology Inc. | App Store | free | yes | 4.6 · 95,549 |
| Video Star Frontier Design Group, LLC | App Store | free | yes | 4.1 · 89,655 |
| Sky Tonight - Stargazing Guide Vito Technology Inc. | App Store | free | yes | 4.8 · 75,617 |
Price
$2.99/month or $19.99/year for ad-free premium
Competitors charge $0 but have ads; users complain about $60+ prices, suggesting a mid-tier subscription is acceptable if value is clear.
Does it add up
Economics do not support paid acquisition initially. Must rely on organic search and app store optimization. Paid ads are only viable if CAC is reduced via better conversion or lower CPC.
Customer acquisition cost
$0.96 (CPC) / 5% conversion = $19.20 per install. Assuming 10% conversion to paid, CAC per paying user is $192. This is high, so organic growth is critical.
Paid search: CPC $0.96 · bids $0.10–$0.84 · competition: Low
Revenue per customer
Assuming $2.99/month and 20% monthly retention, LTV is approx $15. This does not cover paid acquisition CAC.
Assumptions to validate:
Product · 17 · 35,700
stargazing map app (2,900) · augmented reality stargazing app (2,400) · skyview stargazing app (1,900) · stargazing app (27,100) · stargazing app for android (260) · stargazing app iphone (260)
Commercial · 3 · 1,720
free stargazing app (1,600) · free stargazing app for android (70) · free stargazing app for iphone (50)
Comparisons · 20 · 3,450
best free stargazing app iphone (480) · best free stargazing app for android (720) · best free stargazing app (590) · best app stargazing (1,300) · best stargazing app iphone (110) · best stargazing app android (70)
home · Product
title: Best Free Stargazing App - Clean & Ad-Free (42)
H1: Identify Stars Without Ads or Clutter
description: Discover the cleanest stargazing app. No AI slop, no intrusive ads. Just accurate sky identification for beginners. (115)
stargazing app · free stargazing app · best free stargazing app
Competitors have weak SERPs, making it easier to rank.
comparison · Comparisons
title: Stargazing App vs Night Sky & Sky Guide (39)
H1: Why Our Stargazing App is Better
description: Compare our ad-free, beginner-friendly stargazing app with Night Sky and Sky Guide. See why users are switching. (112)
best stargazing app iphone · best stargazing app android · best free stargazing app
Target comparison keywords where competitors are weak.
blog · Informational
title: How to Stargaze: Beginner's Guide (33)
H1: Beginner's Guide to Stargazing
description: Learn how to identify stars, planets, and meteor showers with our easy guide and app. (85)
stargazing app for beginners · best stargazing app for beginners
No informational clusters found, but this fills the gap.
| Topic | Format | When | Phrases |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to identify stars with your phone | guide | October | stargazing app for beginners · augmented reality stargazing app |
| Meteor Shower 2025 Guide | article | August | stargazing app for meteor shower |
Yes, the core features are free. We offer an optional ad-free subscription for power users.
Basic star identification works offline. Online features require internet.
We focus on a clean, ad-free experience with accurate AR, without the clutter and high prices of competitors.
Name: StarClean - Stargazing (22/30)
Subtitle: Ad-Free Sky Map (15/30)
Keywords: sky map,night sky,astronomy,planets,constellations,meteor,telescope,beginner (76/100)
Category: Education
Promotional text: Experience the sky without distractions. Our app is designed for beginners who want accurate, ad-free stargazing.
Screenshots:
Name: StarClean - Stargazing & Sky M (30/30)
Short description: Ad-free stargazing app for beginners. Identify stars, planets, and meteor shower (80/80)
Key phrases: stargazing, sky map, night sky, astronomy, planets, constellations, meteor, telescope, beginner, free
StarClean is the cleanest stargazing app for beginners. Identify stars, planets, and constellations in real-time with accurate augmented reality. No AI slop, no intrusive ads, just pure sky exploration. Perfect for meteor showers and casual stargazing. Download now for a clutter-free experience.
The research has no Google Play data: recommendations rely on queries and the App Store.
Benchmarks: 4.5 · 1000 · Localizations: en, ru
| Name | .com | .app | App Store | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StarClean starclean | taken | taken | similar exists | Clear, descriptive, and available |
| SkyPure skypure | taken | free | free | Emphasizes purity and lack of clutter |
| ClearSky clearsky | taken | taken | similar exists | Simple and descriptive |
| ZenSky zensky | taken | taken | free | Implies calm and distraction-free |
| PureStargaze purestargaze | free | free | free | Directly addresses the pain point |
Domains checked via RDAP, names via the App Store. Check trademarks before registering.
Stargaze Without the Clutter
The only stargazing app designed for beginners, with no ads, no AI slop, and no hidden fees.
Yes, core features are free. We offer an optional ad-free subscription.
Yes, basic identification works offline.
| Channel | What the data supports | First step | Effort | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEO for 'free stargazing app' Organic search | 3/3 weak SERPs, high demand | Publish comparison and home pages | medium | now |
| App Store Optimization App stores | High competition, but weak competitors in reviews | Optimize titles and screenshots for 'ad-free' | medium | now |
| Reddit and HackerNews Communities | Active discussions on stargazing apps | Post in r/astronomy and r/androidapps | low | at launch |
| YouTube Guides Content and video | Informational queries for beginners | Create 'How to Stargaze' video | medium | later |
| Google Ads Paid traffic | Low CPC, but high CAC | Test small budget on 'free stargazing app' | low | later |
Metrics:
Interview questions:
| Risk | What to do |
|---|---|
| Declining trend in search demand | Focus on seasonal peaks and event-specific content to boost interest. |
| High competition from giants | Differentiate on ad-free experience and beginner-friendly UI. |
| Low conversion to paid | Optimize onboarding and highlight value of ad-free experience. |
The report was written by a language model from the collected research data and may be inaccurate; each recommendation cites its source, verify it against the raw data. Generated 2026-09-27T18:11:56+00:00.
Data: search demand, search results, the App Store, public-interest and developer community signals. The verdict is computed by rules from these numbers; the explanation and the plan are written by a language model. Both are evidence to check, not a promise.
The numbers are in its favour. TGGET scored “stargazing app” +2 on a scale from -6 to +5. In its favour: demand is high, search results are open, paid traffic is affordable. Against it: interest is falling. The verdict is “Worth building”. Treat it as evidence to check, not as a promise.
TGGET measured 27,100 monthly searches for “stargazing app” in the United States in September 2026. Search interest fell by 70% over a year.
3 of 3 checked search results are weak and 0 are strong. 46 competing apps were found in the App Store; 14 of them have more than 10,000 ratings, and the median app has 1,753 ratings.
A click in paid search costs about $0.96, and competitors in this niche charge for their products.
Through “free stargazing app”: 1,600 searches a month and weak search results.
TGGET computes the verdict by rules from five measured factors: demand, its change over a year, competition in the app stores, the strength of the search results and the cost of paid traffic. Each factor adds or takes away points and the sum decides, so the same numbers always give the same answer. A language model writes the explanation and the plan; it does not choose the verdict.
Three full researches are free: demand, sub-niches, competitors, App Store and community signals, and a report like this one. Type a phrase or describe the idea in your own words.
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