Licensing | TheStarDB

How it works

Three steps. No surprises.

Get a license key. Register the domains (browser) or app bundle IDs (iOS / Android) you want to use it on. Your key only works on approved properties nobody else can render on your quota.

Render stars

Call the STEN render endpoint with your key. Star data type, distance, spectral class, magnitude returns instantly. Pass story=true to get the named-star narrative in the same response.

Scale with your users

No per-install fees. No device tracking. Monthly quota resets on the 1st. Overages bill at your tier’s rate. When your app grows, you move up a tier the key stays the same.

SDK tiers

Start free. Scale when you’re ready.

Every tier includes browser, iOS, and Android. No separate keys per platform.

Dev

Free Trial

1,000 renders / month

Blocked at 1,000 upgrade to go live.

Integration and prototyping only. Enough to verify the SDK works in your environment before committing to a tier.

Get Dev Key

Indie

Single Property

50,000 renders / month

$49/ mo

Then $0.80 per 1,000 additional renders.

One app or site. Includes Star Stories for named stars. Scales naturally as your user base grows. “Powered by STEN” attribution required.

Get Indie SDK

Studio

Growing App

200,000 renders / month

$149/ mo

Then $0.65 per 1,000 additional renders.

Up to three apps or sites. Includes Star Stories. No attribution required. The right fit when you’re crossing 10k monthly active users.

Get Studio SDK

Best Value

Growth

Multiple Properties

500,000 renders / month

$299/ mo

Then $0.50 per 1,000 additional renders.

Up to five apps or sites. Includes Star Stories. Priority support and the lowest per-render overage rate before Enterprise.

Get Growth SDK

Enterprise

Custom Volume

Negotiated renders / month

Any platform, any scale. Custom volume rates, dedicated SLA, integration support, and negotiated terms for high-volume apps or large user bases.

Get in Touch

One render = one API call no per-install fees, no device tracking, no revenue share.
Star Stories included at Indie and above, returned in the same render response at no extra charge.

Star Stories

Narratives for the named sky. Included.

The 465 IAU named stars each carry a curated narrative their mythology, their physics, their place in the catalog. Pass story=true in your render call and the text comes back in the same response.

No second endpoint. No extra charge. No tokens to manage. Your users tap Betelgeuse they get the visual render and the story in one call. Available at Indie and above.

GET /render
key = your_license_key
star = BETELGEUSE
story = true

{
"starData": { ... },
"story": "Betelgeuse burns
at the shoulder of
Orion a red giant
so vast it would
swallow every planet
out to Jupiter..."
}

One key. Every platform.

Register your domains and bundle IDs under a single license key. The same key covers your website, your iOS app, and your Android app.

🖶

Browser Embed

WebGL2 in any modern browser. Register your domain your key only works on approved origins. Zero install, zero download for your users.

🆕

iOS Native

Swift or Objective-C SDK. Register your app bundle ID we verify every request against it server-side.

🤖

Android Native

Kotlin or Java SDK. Register your package name same validation model as iOS, same quota pool.

API Access

Standalone API Plans

Direct programmatic access to the TheStarDB star catalog full object catalog, all endpoints. Separate from STEN SDK licensing above. Academic and Institution subscriptions include API access at no extra cost.

Starter API

1,000 req/day

$24.99 / month

Full catalog access, all endpoints. For small apps, prototypes, and personal projects.

Get Starter API

Standard API

5,000 req/day

$49.99 / month

For production apps and research pipelines. Bulk endpoints, higher concurrency.

Get Standard API

Professional API

10,000 req/day

$99.99 / month

For high-traffic apps and data products. Priority rate limits, full concurrency, all bulk endpoints.

Get Professional API

Enterprise API

50k req/day

Contact for pricing

Custom quota, dedicated SLA, direct data dump, and custom schema support. Quote based on your specific volume needs.

Read the full API documentation →

Developer questions

What exactly counts as one render? ▾

One render is one call to the STEN star data endpoint whether you are rendering a main-sequence star, a black hole, a pulsar, or a constellation. If your user opens a star detail view, that is one render. If they close it and reopen it, that is another. A render is a request, not a page load or a session.

Does one key work for browser, iOS, and Android? ▾

Yes. You register all your approved properties (domains and bundle IDs) under one license key. Renders from any of them count toward the same monthly pool. If you need separate quotas per platform, contact us Enterprise plans can be structured that way.

What are Star Stories and how do I use them? ▾

Star Stories are curated narratives for the 465 IAU officially named stars their mythology, physics, catalog position, and what makes them distinct. To get one, pass story=true in your render call. The story text comes back in the response alongside the star data. There is no separate endpoint and no extra charge. Available at Indie tier and above.

What happens if I exceed my monthly quota? ▾

Overages bill at your tier rate at the end of the billing period no throttling, no interruption to your users. Dev is the exception: Dev keys are hard-blocked at 1,000 renders and cannot exceed that. If you are regularly hitting your quota, it is time to move up a tier.

Can I use a Dev key in production? ▾

No. Dev keys are for integration and prototyping only. They are blocked at 1,000 renders per month and should not be shipped in a production app or site. Once you are ready to launch, upgrade to Indie or higher and we will issue a production key for your registered properties.

Can I change tiers as I grow? ▾

Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at the start of the next billing cycle. Your license key does not change when you switch tiers no code changes required on your end.

I build for observatories and planetariums. Which tier fits? ▾

If you are embedding STEN in a kiosk, dome display, or museum exhibit you are building for a client, you likely want Enterprise custom volume, a dedicated SLA, and terms that cover installation and handoff. Contact us with your setup and we will structure the right arrangement. If the venue itself wants to use TheStarDB directly without custom development, point them to the Academic or Institution plan on the pricing page instead.

License STEN. Power your platform.

Narratives for the named sky. Included.

Standalone API Plans

Start building today.