Checked November 11, 2026 · Shymea is ours
Co-Star alternatives, by the reason you're leaving
Seven apps, what each App Store listing says it does (and about AI), and what it costs. No star ratings and no made-up scores.
Photo: Shopify Photos / Burst
What is the best Co-Star alternative?
The closest Co-Star alternatives depend on why you're leaving. If it's the AI-written lines, TimePassages and CHANI both say on their App Store listings that their readings are written by astrologers, not AI. If it's the price, TimePassages Pro is $59.99 a year against $8.99 a month for Pro-Star. If you want more chart depth, try TimePassages or Astro Gold. Shymea is our app. It does use AI to interpret your chart, so it's not the pick if AI is your reason for leaving. Its horary answers follow fixed classical rules instead.
At a glance
Co-Star's listing says its astrologers collaborate with AI. CHANI and TimePassages say on their listings that their readings are written by astrologers, not AI. TimePassages Pro is $59.99 a year; Co-Star lists only Pro-Star at $8.99 a month.
- Co-Star Pro-Star
- $8.99 a monthno yearly plan shown
- Listings that say no AI
- CHANI, TimePassages
- Cheapest yearly plan here
- Sanctuary, $49.99
- Prices checked
- November 11, 2026US App Store
See the Shymea appOur app, disclosed. It uses AI to interpret your chart.
Why people leave
What Co-Star's own reviewers complain about
We read the most recent US App Store reviews of Co-Star that Apple publishes. Most of the 1 and 2 star reviews in that window were about one thing: people felt the daily lines had started to read like chatbot text. The wave grew after Bloomberg reported on 24 July 2026 that the AI lab Midjourney had bought Co-Star.
The next most common complaints were about tone, from daily messages people found harsh or discouraging, and about money: things that used to be free, like the detailed "You" readings, now need Pro-Star.
Co-Star's listing is upfront about how it works. It says its human astrologers collaborate with AI technology. Whether that bothers you is your call. If it does, the useful question is which apps say something different on their own listing. The table below shows what each one says.
If it's the AI
Alternatives that say no AI
TimePassages (since 2012) says every interpretation is written by experienced astrologers, "not AI. Not algorithms." It's a chart tool first: the wheel, transits, progressions and synastry, with a daily horoscope worked out from your chart. Be aware that its own recent reviewers complain that the new version charges for things that used to be free.
CHANI says it is made by real astrologers, not AI. It's gentler and slower: a daily horoscope, a meditation for the day and a weekly podcast. Only 5 of its 150 most recent US reviews were 1 or 2 stars, by far the fewest of the six apps we checked.
Shymea (ours) is honest about its split. A computer calculates the chart from NASA JPL data. AI interprets it when you ask a question. Horary answers are judged by William Lilly's 1647 rules, not by an AI model. If any AI is a dealbreaker for you, choose one of the two apps above.
If it's the tone or the price
Kinder words, a lower bill or more depth
For a softer voice, CHANI is built around reflection rather than one-line jabs. For long, psychological readings, The Pattern writes about your patterns and relationships at length. Its recent reviewers say much of it is now paywalled, at $14.99 a month or $83.99 a year.
On price, Co-Star lists only a monthly Pro-Star plan, so a full year costs twelve payments of $8.99. TimePassages Pro is $59.99 a year and Shymea Premium is $89.99. Both listings also sell single items, so you don't have to subscribe to try them.
For real technique, Astro Gold is professional chart software for the phone, with progressions, returns, dignities and astrolocality maps. It doesn't give you a daily feed. It's a tool you learn to use.
Try it
Which alternative fits you?
Tick what you used Co-Star for, set a budget, and the apps sort by how many of your must-haves their listing describes. Co-Star stays in the list so you can compare.
Tick your must-haves
TimePassages covers all 2 of your must-haves.
Students who want the actual chart wheel, progressions, solar arcs and synastry without fuss.
TimePassages · $59.99 a year
2/2 in the listing.
Fair warning: A chart tool first: no chat, no audio, no live readers. Readings are written text. App Store listing
The Pattern · $83.99 a year
2/2 in the listing.
Fair warning: It uses its own plain-language framing rather than showing chart technique, so you will not see degrees or a wheel. No daily horoscope in the usual sense. App Store listing
Shymea · ours · $89.99 a year
2/2 in the listing.
Fair warning: The newest app here (September 2026), so the shortest track record. No live human readers, no audio library, no friends feed, and no free trial. App Store listing
Astro Gold · $95.88 a year at the monthly price
2/2 in the listing.
Fair warning: It is a tool, not a guide: no daily horoscope feed, no chat, no audio. Expect to learn the technique yourself. App Store listing
CHANI · $107.99 a year
2/2 in the listing.
Fair warning: No chat or question feature, by design. The priciest yearly plan in the US table. App Store listing
Sanctuary · $49.99 a year
1/2 in the listing. Not described: Transits and timing.
Fair warning: Readings with people are paid per session on top of the subscription; a 10-minute psychic reading ($49.99 in the US) is the most expensive single purchase in this table. App Store listing
Co-Star · $107.88 a year at the monthly price
1/2 in the listing. Not described: Transits and timing.
Fair warning: Only a monthly Pro-Star plan is listed, so a year costs twelve monthly payments. Ask the stars questions are sold in packs on top. App Store listing
Nebula · yearly price not shown
1/2 in the listing. Not described: Transits and timing.
Fair warning: Advisor chat costs depend on how long you talk. The listing does not say which billing period each plan covers, so no yearly figure is given here. App Store listing
Matches count only features each App Store listing describes, checked November 11, 2026. An app may do more than its listing says. Prices are US list prices before tax.
More to read
One shorter read. It opens in place.
The one thing Co-Star does
If you mostly used it with friends
Co-Star's strongest point is social: you add friends and get notifications about how your charts get on. None of the alternatives here copies that friend feed exactly. TimePassages and Astro Gold do synastry and composite charts. The Pattern has Bonds. Shymea's Bond feature compares charts only after both people agree. If the group chat is the point, you may end up keeping Co-Star for friends and using another app for your own chart.
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The facts, side by side
Copied from each public US App Store listing on 2026-11-11 (Shymea Premium from shymea.com/pricing/). "Not listed" means the listing doesn't describe it, not that the app can't do it. Review themes come from Apple's public review feed.
| App | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| TimePassages | Students who want the actual chart wheel, progressions, solar arcs and synastry without fuss. | A chart tool first: no chat, no audio, no live readers. Readings are written text. |
| CHANI | Reflection and ritual: guided meditations, a weekly podcast and written forecasts. | No chat or question feature, by design. The priciest yearly plan in the US table. |
| Shymea (ours) | People who want depth in one place: chart-aware AI questions, classical horary, synastry and astrocartography. | The newest app here (September 2026), so the shortest track record. No live human readers, no audio library, no friends feed, and no free trial. |
| The Pattern | Personality-first readers who like long, psychological descriptions and relationship patterns. | It uses its own plain-language framing rather than showing chart technique, so you will not see degrees or a wheel. No daily horoscope in the usual sense. |
| Astro Gold | Serious students and practising astrologers who want desktop-grade chart software on a phone. | It is a tool, not a guide: no daily horoscope feed, no chat, no audio. Expect to learn the technique yourself. |
| Sanctuary | People who want an occasional paid reading with a person, with horoscopes and a chart alongside. | Readings with people are paid per session on top of the subscription; a 10-minute psychic reading ($49.99 in the US) is the most expensive single purchase in this table. |
| Nebula | People who want to talk to a live advisor, plus tarot and palm reading alongside astrology. | Advisor chat costs depend on how long you talk. The listing does not say which billing period each plan covers, so no yearly figure is given here. |
| App | Monthly | Yearly | Other purchases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Star | $8.99 | No yearly plan shown ($107.88 at monthly) | Free to download. Pro-Star $8.99 a month. Questions $2.99 (5), $4.99 (10), $6.99 (25). Your Year Ahead $11.99. Advanced Chart (Self or Relationships) $8.99 each. Eros $6.99. |
| TimePassages | $7.99 | $59.99 | Free to download. Pro $7.99 a month or $59.99 a year. Single charts $0.99 each (birth, comparison, transit, progressed, solar arc). |
| CHANI | $11.99 | $107.99 | Free to download. Subscription $11.99 a month or $107.99 a year. A monthly plan with a trial is also listed. |
| Shymea (ours) | $9.99 | $89.99 | Free to download. Premium $9.99 a month or $89.99 a year (shymea.com/pricing/). Horary packs $1.99 (3) or $4.99 (10). Reports from $3.99. |
| The Pattern | $14.99 | $83.99 | Free to download. Go Deeper+ $14.99 a month, $29.99 a quarter or $83.99 a year. Connect+ $24.99 a quarter. Extra profile slots $9.99 to $19.99. |
| Astro Gold | $7.99 | No yearly plan shown ($95.88 at monthly) | Free to download with a 7-day trial. Gold Monthly $7.99 (a lifetime upgrade is mentioned in the description; its price is not among the purchases shown). Reports $2.99 to $3.99. Astrolocality Maps $24.99. |
| Sanctuary | $14.99 | $49.99 | Free to download. Sanctuary+ $14.99 a month or $49.99 a year. Intro readings $4.99; 10-minute readings $29.99 (tarot) or $49.99 (psychic). |
| Nebula | Not shown | Not shown | Free to download. Six premium subscription prices listed, $2.99 to $49.99, with no billing period shown. Chat balance $9.99. Daily secrets from birth chart $7.99. |
| Feature | Co-Star | TimePassages | CHANI | Shymea (ours) | The Pattern | Astro Gold | Sanctuary | Nebula |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily horoscope | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| Full birth chart readings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Transits and timing | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Compatibility with friends or partners | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Progressions, composite or solar arc charts | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Ask your own questions | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Meditations, podcasts or audio | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Horary (question) astrology | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Astrocartography and relocation | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Live human readers or advisors | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| App | Reviews read | 1-2 star reviews | Most common themes in those (count) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Star | 150 most recent, 2026-06-25 to 2026-11-09 | 114 | AI-written horoscopes (66); Removed features or redesign (28); Harsh or negative tone (27); Vague or inaccurate (24); Paywall or price (19) |
| The Pattern | 150 most recent, 2026-05-18 to 2026-11-08 | 54 | Removed features or redesign (32); Paywall or price (26); AI features (17); Vague or inaccurate (9); Bugs or log-in (6) |
| TimePassages | 150 most recent, 2026-05-05 to 2026-11-09 | 33 | Paywall or price (27); Removed features or redesign (18); Bugs or log-in (7); Charges or refunds (3) |
| Sanctuary | 150 most recent, 2023-01-20 to 2026-10-18 | 117 | Paywall or price (60); Removed features or redesign (59); Paid readings with people (23); Charges or refunds (22); Bugs or log-in (19); Ads and pop-ups (13) |
| Nebula | 150 most recent, 2026-09-19 to 2026-11-09 | 16 | Paywall or price (10); Removed features or redesign (8); Charges or refunds (6); Paid readings with people (5) |
| CHANI | 150 most recent, 2026-09-03 to 2026-11-09 | 5 | No common theme (5) |
| App | Seller on the App Store | First released | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Star | Co-Star Astrology Society | 2017-10-05 | apps.apple.com/us/app/co-star-personalized-astrology/id1264782561 |
| TimePassages | AstroGraph Software | 2012-01-06 | apps.apple.com/us/app/timepassages-astrology/id488946918 |
| CHANI | Chani Nicholas Incorporated | 2020-12-17 | apps.apple.com/us/app/chani-your-astrology-guide/id1532791252 |
| Shymea (ours) | Shymea Private Limited | 2026-09-02 | apps.apple.com/us/app/shymea-life-map-decisions/id6767671795 |
| The Pattern | Pattern Home, Inc. | 2017-05-26 | apps.apple.com/us/app/the-pattern/id1071085727 |
| Astro Gold | Cosmic Apps Pty Ltd | 2011-04-20 | apps.apple.com/us/app/astro-gold-astrology/id430270438 |
| Sanctuary | Sanctuary Ventures Inc | 2018-10-24 | apps.apple.com/us/app/sanctuary-psychic-reading/id1417411962 |
| Nebula | Spiritual Nebula Limited | 2019-04-28 | apps.apple.com/us/app/nebula-spiritual-guidance/id1459969523 |
All times are UTC. In the Americas the local date can be a day earlier; in Asia and Australia a day later.
Quick answers
What is the best Co-Star alternative?
It depends on why you're leaving. For readings written by people rather than AI, TimePassages and CHANI both say so on their App Store listings. For a lower yearly price, TimePassages Pro is $59.99 a year (US App Store, checked November 11, 2026). For professional chart tools, Astro Gold.
Does Co-Star use AI?
Its App Store listing says its horoscopes are written by real human astrologers who collaborate with AI technology. Bloomberg reported on 24 July 2026 that the AI lab Midjourney had acquired Co-Star.
Which astrology apps say they don't use AI?
On their US App Store listings, checked November 11, 2026, CHANI says it is made by real astrologers, not AI, and TimePassages says every interpretation is written by real astrologers, not AI.
Does Shymea use AI?
Yes, for interpretation. Shymea calculates your chart from NASA JPL's DE442 ephemeris, and AI explains it when you ask a question. Its horary answers use William Lilly's classical rules instead of an AI model. Shymea is our app.
How much is Co-Star Pro-Star?
The US App Store listing shows Pro-Star at $8.99 a month, with no yearly plan, and question packs from $2.99, checked November 11, 2026.
