Tool profile
KStars: cost, fit and limits
KStars is a free desktop planetarium made by the KDE community that simulates the sky and offers an observation planner and an astrophotography workflow, with downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux. It is aimed at hobbyists and at imagers who want charting and capture together.
What to know first
KStars is free, and donations to KDE are optional. The homepage shows version 3.8.5 and describes a sky simulation with up to 100 million stars, 10,000 deep-sky objects, comets and asteroids, tools for conjunctions and planet positions, and a complete astrophotography workflow. The KDE app privacy policy says software does not transmit data except on explicit user action. The pages read name no AI feature.
KStars at a glance
| Maker | KDE community (KDE e.V., Germany, named in the KDE privacy policy), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Astronomy Software in 2026, rank 5 of 13 |
| Website | kstars.kde.org |
Who KStars is best for
Linux imagers
KDE software is a natural fit for Linux desktops, and KStars is also listed for Windows and macOS, so one tool covers mixed setups.
Users who want chart and capture together
The homepage lists both a sky simulation and a complete astrophotography workflow, which reduces the number of separate programs to learn.
Privacy-minded hobbyists
The KDE policy says software does not transmit data except on explicit user action, although some features use periodic checks that can be disabled.
KStars plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| KStars | Free | Desktop planetarium for Windows, macOS and Linux, version 3.8.5 on the homepage. Donations to KDE are optional. |
Checked November 2026.
What KStars does
- Sky simulation
- The homepage cites up to 100 million stars, 10,000 deep-sky objects, comets and asteroids in the simulated sky. That is the vendor's own count of what the simulated sky can show, so check it against your needs.
- Astrophotography workflow
- A complete workflow for astrophotography is named on the homepage, though the page gives few step-by-step details. The page gives few step-by-step details, so check your own camera against the documentation.
- Observation planner
- A planner helps lay out observations in advance, which links the sky view to a plan for the night. The planner links the sky view to a list of what you intend to observe on a given night.
- Conjunctions and planet positions
- Tools predict conjunctions and plot the positions of planets over time, useful for planning around planetary events. This helps when planning around planetary events, such as a close pairing of two planets.
- Internet resources
- The program can reach internet resources for information, imagery and data about objects. Such resources add information and imagery to objects, though they depend on a network connection.
How KStars handles your data
The KDE app privacy policy, which covers KStars, says software does not transmit data except on explicit user action, and it notes that some features use periodic checks that can be disabled. The policy names KDE e.V. as the registered non-profit in Germany. No retention period for KStars itself, hosting region or certification is stated on the pages read, and nothing says customer data trains AI models. Because KStars runs on your machine, images and plans stay local unless you use an online resource.
Where KStars falls short in practice
- Thin capture detail. The homepage names a complete astrophotography workflow but lists no camera models or sequencing features, so you must check your hardware in the documentation. Check your camera against the documentation first.
- Platform list. Downloads are listed for Windows, macOS and Linux only, so other systems need a build from source. Other systems would need a build from source.
- Community support. No paid support is named. Donations go to KDE, and help comes from the community around the project. Help comes from the community around the project.
Alternatives to KStars
KStars: common questions
Is KStars free?
Yes. The homepage describes KStars as free astronomy software, and donations to KDE are optional. No paid plan appears on the pages we read. The homepage shows version 3.8.5 with downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux. There is no paid tier on the pages we read.
Does KStars include astrophotography tools?
The homepage lists a complete astrophotography workflow beside the planetarium and an observation planner. The page gives few details on supported cameras or sequencing, so compare it with N.I.N.A. or Voyager if you need those specifics before committing. Check the KDE documentation for the details.
How many stars does KStars show?
The homepage says the sky simulation reaches up to 100 million stars, with 10,000 deep-sky objects, comets and asteroids. That is the vendor's own count. A deeper catalog helps for faint-object planning, though your own telescope sets the real limit.
Does KStars collect my data?
The KDE app privacy policy says software does not transmit data except on explicit user action. It also notes that some features use periodic checks, which can be disabled. KDE e.V. is named as the registered non-profit in Germany. That makes it easy to see what the program does on its own.
Does KStars use AI?
The pages we read name no AI feature for KStars. It is described as a planetarium with an astrophotography workflow and planning tools. For a vendor that names AI in imaging, see Voyager or StellarMate in this list. Both are vendor descriptions.