Free vs Paid Astrology Apps of 2021

Just like with any other type of app, we first paid attention to the functionality and reliability of each platform. Does it run smoothly? Does it crash? Are there any obvious glitches? Is the user interface easy enough to navigate? All of these questions were on our minds from the get-go.

Obviously, the sheer number of options is what will make or break any app. Customizability and the ability to cover many different parts of astrology were also essential. From birth charts and daily predictions to finding your perfect astrological match - we paid attention to every single detail.

Still, perhaps the most important element here would be the quality of the content. How well are the articles written? Was the platform created by experts or charlatans? Do the predictions sound believable enough? We really had to dig deep here - but it paid off.

Speaking of payments, we also took notice of how much each app costs - and drew a line between those that you should invest in and those that you may as well skip.

Astrology requires you to take a leap of faith, both when consulting a real professional and when choosing the right app. We are happy to say that our search has paid off and that we can announce Nebula as our winner.

Your journey into the unknown will begin by entering all the appropriate data that will allow the algorithms to calculate your natal chart and offer you a personalized experience. The time and date of your birth, the location, as well as your gender will be taken into account. Other personal info is not collected.

Once that is done, you will be able to access your daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly horoscope. This seems quite the standard offer but, in the case of Nebula, you also have full control over when you wish to have them delivered. Setting up notifications (or opting out of them) will make things a lot easier.

The predictions seem pretty detailed and thorough, giving you an impression that this is the platform to turn to in times of need. In fact - when it comes to accuracy - this app seems to stand head and shoulders above all others. Some of the info presented to us was eerily accurate. Make of that what you will.

In addition, you can discover how good a match you are with your significant other or potential date. It doesn't matter how long you've been together - if at all. Nebula will do the math for you and help you understand some of the other side's quirks, as well as any walls that you may have built between you. All this will be presented in percentages as well as accompanied by a good deal of clear and concise text.

Another thing you shouldn't overlook is the ability to connect with others. Invite your friends or chat with complete strangers through the carefully crafted forum. Dip deep into your destiny and learn about tarot, crystals, and spell casting from people from across the globe. You never know who you may find. Your new best friend, perhaps?

We should also mention that, with the paid plan, you can consult individual astrologers on a number of topics. Interested in your love life? Finances? Perhaps your question is more specific than that? Don't worry; it will be answered in fine detail in a matter of days. Of course, for this sort of service, you will need to pay $9.99 per week. What seems like a substantial sum will turn into a diminutive expense once you realize what you'll be getting for it.

The functionality is consistent throughout, and we haven't been able to find a single flaw in that department. The dark purple hue of the layout only enhances the professional look. The overall impression is definitely one of quality and attention to detail. 10/10.

An app as well-rounded as Nebula is quite difficult to judge in a negative light. There are few, if any, flaws we could pick - with the price being the first obvious downside for many users. Still, you can manage without the personalized services of a real-life astrologer, all the other features that the platform has to offer will be available to you free of charge.

The other flaw that some more seasoned users may pick up on is the almost exclusive focus on the Western system. We wish we could've seen a bit more Vedic or Druid content - not to mention the amazing Chinese signs and their meanings. Still, despite this, Nebula retains its top spot.

Much like any other type of software, astrology too has a few big names that are referred to over and over. This app, in particular, boasts the largest number of users on the internet and has some pretty impressive ratings to boot. Promising a lot, claiming to be perfectly safe and secure, it invites you to give it a try.

In our experience, this could easily turn into your go-to place for your daily, monthly, weekly, and ever yearly horoscope. It covers not only the Western canon but also puts great emphasis on the Chinese zodiac as well as the less-known but equally fascinating Druid astrology.

The latter deserves all the attention that you can afford to give it. If you're not sure what sign (or rather a tree) your date of birth falls under, you can easily determine that and see what the Celtic system has in store for you. Are you a Birch, a Rowan, or perhaps a Hawthorn? It's time to find out. During this testing period, the Druid system has proven to be the most accurate when it comes to daily predictions. We definitely didn't expect that.

Another option you can access is Zodiac sign characteristics, which will enable you to get a better understanding of your friends, family, coworkers, and even your significant other. In fact, it is perhaps in the last that this app excels the most. Its detailed compatibility charts will help you understand why your relationship may not be working the way it ought to - and how to fix it.

The platform remains simple and straightforward throughout, benefiting from a beautiful design and an off-purple theme. It allows the eyes to rest and gives the app a particularly serene look. If this is not good enough for you, you can always choose a different theme to suit your aesthetic.

It is more than obvious that this app and its corresponding website have been around for a while. The experience and attention to detail can be seen throughout, and every bit of content is accessible for free with no paywalls and 20 available favorites to save your daily readings. 

For $2.99 a year, as an "Initiated" user, you get up to 50 favorites, and the following tiers, Zealot and Insider, cost $6.99 a year and $9.99 a year, respectively, with Insider giving you unlimited favorites and up to 2 weeks of past horoscopes.

Daily Horoscope may not be an app for experts but, for the average user, it is practically a godsend. It covers absolutely everything a casual aficionado may be interested in. Your choice will ultimately depend on what you're after.

Unlike most other apps on our list, Chaturanga covers not only the Western canon by also puts great emphasis on Vedic astrology. In fact, the latter is what it truly excels at. This ancient tradition of India offers an interesting twist for those who like to learn about and experience new points of view. A fresh perspective on the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm lies at the core of its teachings.

It includes several sub-systems that are supremely nuanced and offer great insight into any topic you may be focusing on. An experienced astrologer can gauge out some pretty impressive info this way. That is precisely the sort of thing this platform offers - the service of a true pro.

Once you install the app, you can enter your details. The more info you provide, the better the reading will be. It is best if you know the exact time of your birth. Once you deal with this, you can ask your question and have a short chat with an astrologer. After this, you will need to wait for 24h for a very detailed answer. Once your reading is ready, you will receive a notification on your phone as well as an email containing the entire document. Be warned that the waiting time could turn out to be a bit longer than stated.

Believe it or not, the answer to your first question will be free of charge. To buy more questions, you will need to pay $3.99 for one, $14.99 for five, $29.99 for ten different inquiries. This is a pretty decent bargain considering you're getting a premium service adapted to fit your needs, and they were offering a 50% off promo when we tested. You can also invest $8.99 into a compatibility analysis - or receive a personal horoscope for the same price.

In addition to the abovementioned features, there's another option you might want to check - especially if you yourself have plenty of experience in astrology. Chaturanga invites its users to become members of its core team. Of course, a rigorous selection is an essential part of the process, and only the best of the best will be selected.

Still, if you do manage to make it, you will be offered a chance to earn actual money while doing a job you love. It is something we didn't expect to find but a refreshing new feature none the less. If you're looking for a side-gig, you may as well want to consider this.

Advertised as the AI-powered daily horoscope, it does a decent enough job but somehow still leaves a bit to be desired. The app's witty and sometimes acerbic remarks offer interesting ideas and sometimes fairly deep insight. They are fun and quirky but not quite as wide-ranging as those present in the other apps. Overall, Co-Star tends to put more emphasis on how smart it can get rather than on the objective quality of the product. Luckily, it is reasonably priced and, for $2.99, you should be able to access some advanced features and even enter birth charts manually. Not great, not terrible, but still worth a try.

To anyone familiar with astrology, the name of Susan Miller should be a guarantee of quality. Indeed, the content this platform has to offer is pretty good and delves into some details that other apps simply don't cover. Still, the software has some minor glitches that, over time, can start getting on your nerves. For example, the payment method won't always work. After a free trial, you can have all of its features unlocked for $4.99 per month, but you might need to try three or four times before the system actually accepts your money. We reached out to Google Play Store, but the problem was definitely not on their end. In addition, technical issues can arise after a bit of browsing and, the deeper into the app you go, the slower it will get. Unfortunately, perfectly awesome content is sometimes obscured by shoddy development. Here's hoping that the IT team will fix all this in due time.

This is one of those apps with which something will go wrong from the get-go. In the case of Sanctuary Astrology, the tendency for the software to crash when you try to sign in will sour up the experience. You can consider yourself lucky if you get in on the third try. We tested it on two different phones, and the situation never got any better. Is it a temporary glitch? A permanent bug? We are not sure, but this definitely discouraged us from spending too much time on it - or paying $19.99 per month for a premium version. The high rating remains a mystery.

The platform covers quite a few topics. You can consider short-term and long-term influences, measure the chemistry between people - and see what you need to do to find your perfect match. In fact, the app is particularly strong when it comes to romance. There are some options you can access without paying but, if you wish for full functionality, you should bear in mind that the pro version will set you back $3.99/month. Still, some pieces of the puzzle will still be missing. As you browse along, you will start noticing mistakes and omissions - especially if you already have extensive experience in astrology. For example, aspects involving the North node aren't available yet in the pro version, but this fact is not clearly stated. It's a good app that tries to cater to professionals but leaves a few gaping holes in the process.

Most apps stick to just one category, but AstroMatrix is actually connecting astrology with tarot. The free version offers enough options, and the pro plan will cost you $11.49 for a six-month subscription. The amount of information you can access is quite substantial but, even once you pay, you will still continue seeing some ads. That alone turns it into a big "no" from us.

According to ancient myths, the Fates weave the web of destiny. The Pattern attempts to make sense of it, covering the personality traits that definite your path, the bonds and relationship you cultivate, and the "world timing" that touches upon major global events. The app also allows you to chat and interact with other users and integrates plenty of other cool ideas into its core. Unfortunately, the execution is (still) not good enough, and paying $14.99 for additional content doesn't sound too tempting.