As someone who’s been practicing astrology the old-fashioned way for decades, nose deep in ephemerides, solar arcs, and good old Solar Fire, I’ll admit that I haven’t been the quickest to embrace the wave of astrology apps flooding the digital world.
My go-to tools have always been Solar Fire and Astro-Seek. They’re accurate, reliable, and rich with data. But after hearing Co–Star’s name come up again and again in conversations, especially among younger clients and friends (and TikTok), I decided it was time to give it a spin.
I was curious. Could a slick astrology app really do what I do with a birth chart and a cup of tea? So, with a mix of skepticism and genuine interest, I downloaded Co–Star and plugged in my birth details.
First Impressions
The app is beautifully designed. It’s clean, stylish, and incredibly easy to navigate. I can see why people love it. There’s a social media feel to it. It gives users a bite-sized dose of astrology every day, which is undeniably fun and engaging.
But as I began to explore deeper, looking at the natal chart, the daily updates, and the interpretations, I started noticing a few things that made me raise an eyebrow.
To be blunt: Co–Star’s accuracy is questionable, or at least it is not what I’d call accurate in the traditional sense of astrological interpretation.
The Chart
Let’s talk about the chart itself. Yes, it uses your actual birth time, date, and location, so on a technical level, it’s pulling from real astronomical data. The planets are in the correct signs, although Co–Star showed my Ascendant at 10 degrees Pisces, when in reality it’s at 12 degrees. Astro-Seek, Solar Fire, and even Astro-Charts.com get my ASC right.
The house placements check out. In that sense, the foundation is accurate. But what the app does with that information is… well, let’s just say it’s a very modern, algorithmic interpretation of astrology.
The interpretations feel incredibly generalized. It’s as though the app pulls from a large bank of keywords and applies them to your chart based on some preset formulas. While traditional astrology values nuance, like the relationship between planets (aspects), essential dignities, and chart rulerships, Co–Star tends to boil things down into dramatic, meme-like soundbites. “Your skin feels too tight today,” it told me one day. Okay, sure. But where is that coming from? A transit? A natal aspect? A progression? It never tells you.
What I found especially lacking was context. Real astrology isn’t just about “your Mars is in Cancer so you’re moody about conflict.” It’s about how that Mars interacts with the rest of your chart, how it speaks to Saturn, or if it’s being activated by a current transit. Co–Star doesn’t offer that deeper layering. It’s a bit like reading a horoscope that tries to be personal but misses the soul of the chart.
Another thing that concerned me is the tone. Sometimes Co–Star’s messages come across as needlessly harsh or cryptic. I get that the app is going for edgy and cool, but astrology should feel empowering, not confusing or fatalistic. A tool that’s supposed to help people understand themselves shouldn’t leave them feeling anxious or in the dark.
That said, I don’t want to be a total downer about Co–Star. It is fun. And for people who are totally new to astrology, it can serve as an entertaining introduction. It gets people curious, asking questions, and maybe even looking up their full chart. I’ve had clients who came to me because CoStar piqued their interest, so in that way, it’s a great gateway.
But is it accurate? In the strictest sense of the word, no. It’s not the tool I would recommend if you’re seriously interested in understanding your birth chart or planning your life around transits. For that, stick to something like Astro-Seek, which offers tons of free, in-depth chart tools, or invest in proper astrology software like Solar Fire.
Bottom Line
Co–Star is astrology lite. It’s astrology for your coffee break, not for your deep soul-searching. If you want daily entertainment and a sleek app interface, Co–Star delivers. But if you want depth, accuracy, and the full richness of what astrology can offer, you’re going to have to dig a little deeper and probably look outside your app store.
As an old-school astrologer, I’ll stick to my tried-and-true tools. But I’m also glad people are connecting with astrology in whatever way they can. Just remember: the stars deserve more than surface-level soundbites. And so do you.
