Comparison
StarMapCo vs The Night Sky
StarMapCo wrote this page, and we sell star maps too — so every fact below comes from each company's own published pages, linked in the sources, and we say plainly where The Night Sky is the better pick. Prices and competitor facts last checked October 26, 2026.
The short answer
Both companies calculate a real star map for your date, time and place. StarMapCo lets you design and see the whole map free before you pay, with no account, and can add the Moon in its phase and the five naked-eye planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn — when they were above the horizon. The Night Sky's star maps show stars, constellation lines and the Moon, not planets. In return, The Night Sky offers far more formats and sizes, free standard shipping on US orders, change-of-mind returns, and a much larger review history. On price, StarMapCo is lower at the sizes both companies sell, in both USD and CAD.
Choose StarMapCo if…
- you want to see the exact map, free, before paying — no account needed;
- you want the Moon and the five planets from that night on the map;
- you want the lower price at 16×16, framed or canvas, in USD or CAD;
- you want an HD digital file from $9, or 10% off a second copy of the same print;
- your date falls outside a 1900–2100 window.
Choose The Night Sky if…
- you want foil, glow-in-the-dark, jewelry, or a print larger than 18×18 (they go to 24×32);
- free standard shipping on a small order matters more than the print price;
- you want a 30-day return that covers orders you are simply not happy with;
- a large public review history (Trustpilot 4.6, over 10,000 reviews) matters to you;
- you want a published archival colour guarantee (100+ years, per their pages).
Prices, side by side (USD)
List prices before shipping and promos, as published on October 26, 2026. The Night Sky discounts frequently, so its live prices may be lower than list. Frame and canvas sizes differ between the two companies — each cell shows the size that price buys.
| Format | StarMapCo | The Night Sky |
|---|---|---|
| Unframed poster, 16×16 | $39 | $55 (Classic) |
| Unframed poster, 18×18 | $49 | No 18×18 — 18×24 Classic is $69 |
| Framed print | $99 (14×14) | $110 (12×12), $125 (16×16) |
| Canvas wrap | $79 (14×14) | $90 (12×12), $100 (16×16) |
| HD digital file | From $9 | Offered; price not in the public price list we checked |
Prices for Canadian buyers (CAD)
Both companies publish Canadian pricing. StarMapCo charges Canadians from a fixed CAD price list; The Night Sky publishes its own CAD prices (list, checked October 26, 2026).
| Format | StarMapCo | The Night Sky |
|---|---|---|
| Unframed poster, 16×16 | CA$55 | CA$79 (Classic) |
| Framed print | CA$139 (14×14) | CA$155 (12×12), CA$175 (16×16) |
| Canvas wrap | CA$111 (14×14) | CA$125 (12×12), CA$140 (16×16) |
Features, side by side
“Not stated” means we could not find it on that company's own pages on the check date — not that they don't offer it.
| Compare | StarMapCo | The Night Sky |
|---|---|---|
| Star data | Yale Bright Star Catalog (9,000+ stars), positions calculated with astronomy-engine | ESA Hipparcos catalog, stars to magnitude 6 (their comparison page) |
| What the map shows | Stars, constellation lines and labels, the Moon in its phase, and Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn when above the horizon (optional) | Stars, constellation lines and the Moon. "No planets" — constellation names come in an included eBook, not on the map (their comparison page) |
| Free preview before paying | Yes — full live preview in the editor, no account needed | Not stated on the pages we checked; we make no claim either way |
| Date range | The editor takes the date you enter; no preset start or end year | 1900–2100 (stated in their site code, checked October 26, 2026) |
| Formats | HD digital file, unframed posters, framed print, canvas wrap, mug, keepsake card add-on | Classic print, framed, canvas, foil, foil framed, glow-in-the-dark, jewelry, Planets Aligned print |
| Print sizes | 16×16 and 18×18 posters; 14×14 framed and canvas | 12×12, 12×16, 16×16, 18×24, 20×20 and 24×32 |
| Paper | Enhanced matte poster paper, 189 g/m² (10.3 mil), per our print partner's spec for the poster product | 200 g/m² enhanced matte fine art paper, giclée archival pigment inks, 100+ year colour guarantee (their published claims) |
| Second copy of the same print | 10% off a second copy of the same print (posters, framed and canvas) | Extra 5×7 print add-on, $25 USD / CA$35 (their price list) |
| Shipping cost (standard) | Free on print orders of $89 or more; otherwise from $4.49 US / $5.17 CA for posters, $9.84 US / $10.77 CA framed | Free on US orders except framed/canvas 24×32 (+$20); Canada: unframed free, framed/canvas +CA$30 to CA$95. Paid faster tiers offered |
| Delivery time | Made to order in 2–5 business days, then tracked standard shipping (US transit typically 4–6 business days for posters and framed). Standard shipping only — no express option | Quoted delivery windows (October 26, 2026): US standard 4–11 business days depending on state and format; Canada standard 3–10 business days |
| Christmas order-by (2026) | Framed and canvas: Canada Dec 3, US Dec 8. Posters: US Dec 9, Canada Dec 10. HD digital is delivered the same day, right up to Dec 25 | No dated Christmas cutoff found on their site when we checked (October 2026) |
| Returns | No change-of-mind returns (every map is personalised). Free reprint if a print arrives damaged or misprinted — contact us within 30 days of delivery | Returns accepted within 30 days if you are not happy with your order (their help pages) |
| Reviews | 5.0 from 2 Google reviews (shown on our homepage) | Trustpilot 4.6 from over 10,000 reviews, per their own comparison page |
One honest note on paper: on published specs, The Night Sky lists the heavier stock (200 g/m² against our 189 g/m²) and an archival colour guarantee. We publish our paper weight and make no archival-life claim.
What will be on your map?
StarMapCo calculates the stars, the Moon's phase and the positions of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn for your exact date, time and place. A planet or the Moon only appears if it was above the horizon at that moment, so not every map shows all six. The Night Sky's star maps show the Moon but not planets; it sells a separate Planets Aligned solar-system print instead. To be fair: some other star map makers show planets too — this is a difference from The Night Sky, not something only we do.
See it before you pay
You can design and preview your full map in the StarMapCo editor without an account and without paying. You pay only when it looks right, and the map you approve is the map you get. We have not tested The Night Sky's checkout, so this page makes no claim about how its preview works — check it yourself if that matters to you.
Is it accurate? Check it yourself
StarMapCo uses your date, local time, timezone and location, and calculates star, planet and Moon positions with astronomy-engine and star catalog data. You can verify any star map — ours or anyone else's — in a few minutes:
- Open the free Stellarium planetarium (linked below) or another planetarium you trust.
- Set the same place, date and time as the map you are checking.
- Compare the bright stars, the Moon and any planets near the horizon.
Our longer guide, How accurate are star maps?, explains what can still change the result (weather, light pollution, an unknown exact time).
Printing and delivery
StarMapCo prints are made to order after you pay, usually in 2–5 business days, then shipped standard with tracking. We don't offer express shipping on prints, so for a last-minute gift the HD digital file — delivered the same day — is our fast option. The Night Sky offers free standard shipping on US orders and paid faster options, which makes it the safer pick when the deadline is tight and the gift has to be physical. Full details are on our shipping page and Christmas order-by page.
See your sky free before you decide
Enter your date and place and look at the actual map — then decide which company earns the order.
FAQ
Does StarMapCo show planets on the star map?
Yes. When you enable them, the map shows Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, plus the Moon in its phase — each only when it was above the horizon at your date, time and place, so not every map shows all six.
Does The Night Sky show planets?
No. The Night Sky's own comparison page says its star maps show the Moon but "No planets". It sells a separate Planets Aligned solar-system print instead (checked October 25, 2026).
Can I see my StarMapCo map before I pay?
Yes. The full preview in the editor is free and needs no account. You only pay when you unlock the HD file or order a print, and the map you approve is the map you get.
Which is cheaper, StarMapCo or The Night Sky?
It depends on the format. At 16×16 unframed, StarMapCo is $39 and The Night Sky's Classic print is $55. Framed, StarMapCo's 14×14 is $99 against The Night Sky's $110 (12×12) and $125 (16×16). The Night Sky's smallest print starts at $39 (12×12), and StarMapCo's HD digital file starts at $9. Prices are list prices in USD, checked October 26, 2026, before shipping and promos.
Which is better for foil, glow-in-the-dark, jewelry or a really big print?
The Night Sky. It sells foil and glow-in-the-dark prints, jewelry, and sizes up to 24×32 inches. StarMapCo's largest print is 18×18 and it does not sell jewelry or foil.
Can I return a StarMapCo map if I change my mind?
No. Every map is personalised, so StarMapCo does not accept change-of-mind returns. If a print arrives damaged or misprinted, contact us within 30 days of delivery and we reprint it free. The Night Sky accepts returns within 30 days if you are not happy with your order.
How far back can I make a map?
StarMapCo's editor takes the date you enter — it does not stop at a preset year — and calculates the sky for that date, time and place. The Night Sky states a supported range of 1900–2100 in its site code (checked October 26, 2026).
Which one ships free?
The Night Sky offers free standard shipping on US orders, with one exception — framed and canvas 24×32 orders add $20 — plus free standard shipping on unframed prints to Canada. StarMapCo offers free standard shipping on print orders with a merchandise subtotal of $89 or more; below that, standard shipping starts at $4.49 in the US.
Sources
StarMapCo facts come from our own site and catalog data; The Night Sky facts come from its own published pages and price list. All competitor facts were checked October 25–26, 2026.
- StarMapCo: homepage, shipping policy, returns & refunds, Christmas order-by dates, how accurate are star maps, and our print catalog (prices and the 189 g/m² enhanced matte paper spec come from our print partner's published catalog data for the poster product we sell).
- The Night Sky: their comparison page (star data, planets, paper claims, returns, Trustpilot figures), star map print product page, delivery times help article, and their published USD/CAD price list (all prices on this page, captured October 26, 2026).
- Verification tool: Stellarium, the free planetarium.
The Night Sky is a trademark of its owner. StarMapCo isn't affiliated with it. Spotted something wrong? Email support@starmapco.com and we'll fix it.