# PhotoPills — Shoot legendary photos

> Photography planning app for celestial events and landscape composition. (iPhone/iPad app by PhotoPills S.L..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [PhotoPills S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596026808)
- Category: Photo & Video, Education
- Price: $10.99
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 1,516 App Store ratings · 475 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 51 MB
- Languages: American English, Catalan, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, European Portuguese, Russian, European Spanish
- Released: 2013-03-21
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805/reviews.md

## What is PhotoPills?

Unlock your creative potential! Discover how to easily turn any Sun, Moon and Milky Way scene you imagine into a real picture… and start shooting truly legendary photos every time you pick up the camera!

Whether your passion is to capture beautiful landscapes, immortalize the infinite night sky, surprise the bride and the groom in their happiest day... or to travel the world, PhotoPills will make you love exploring new artistic possibilities to tell visual stories in a way it wasn’t possible before.

* All in one app
PhotoPills is your iPhone and iPad personal assistant in all photographic matters. It provides tasty remedies to answer most of the questions when planning and shooting your creative ideas: 
- The First 2D Map-Centric Planner: Sun, Moon, Milky Way
- Sun, Moon Alignments Fast Finder
- 3D Augmented Reality: Sun, Moon, Milky Way, Celestial Equator, Polaris, DoF, FoV
- Photo Plans Manager
- Location Scouting Tool
- Key information: Sunrise/set, Twilights, Golden Hour, Blue Hour, Moonrise/set, Supermoon dates, Moon Calendar
- Calculators: Long Exposure, Timelapse, Spot Stars, Star Trails, Hyperfocal Table, DoF, FoV
- Widgets: Sun, Moon, Milky Way
- PhotoPills Awards… and much more!

* Endorsed by Masters
“PhotoPills is an invaluable tool which I use every time I plan a shoot.” – Mark Gee, Astronomy Photographer of the Year.
“A tool every photographer should have.” – Kevin Raber, Luminous-landscape.com.
“It pays off! Using such a tool ensures that we are repeatedly capable of quickly planning powerful shots; leaving maximum opportunity for more creative ruminations.” – José B. Ruiz, Innovation Award, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

* How it works
Have you ever walked around a place and thought: "What a pity the Moon isn't EXACTLY right there... I would have captured a great photo!"? What about the Sun? And the Milky Way? Well, now you can let your imagination fly and calculate when this specific magic moment happens in just a few seconds:
- IMAGINE: the Milky Way arching over a powerful landscape, a giant full Moon appearing from behind a nearby hill or a sunset between two rocks on a magic beach... The only limit is your imagination!
- PLAN: easily calculate the exact date and time the scene you’ve imagined happens. Work smarter, not harder! 
- SHOOT: just get out there, immerse yourself in the great outdoors, and enjoy living and capturing unique moments.

* Become a Legend
Because we know the huge amount of time, energy and love you put in your photos. We want to HONOR them, SHOW them to the World, and REWARD you with up to $6,600 in cash prizes. It's easy and FREE! Just submit your creative photos from PhotoPills and join the Legacy!

* Never waste an unmissable scene again
Create a To-Do list of planned photos and get to the location on time. 

* Get it right
Adjust your frame for the best composition before you shoot. Use the 3D Augmented Reality Views to see whether Sun, Moon and Milky Way will be at the desired position when pressing the shutter.

* Explore, discover great places and create your own database of locations
If you come across a location you’d like to remember, save it as a Point of Interest.

* Enjoy all daily information in just one swipe with the Widgets
Just swipe down from the top of the screen to get all the Sun, Moon and Milky Way events for your current location and date, in addition to your upcoming photo plans.

* Get more than an app
Our goal is not only to help you plan your shots, but also to help you nail them. Whenever you need help, take a look at our How-To articles and videos, join our free online courses or just contact us!

“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take PhotoPills – you stay in Wonderland and we show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes. Remember: all we’re offering are Legendary Photos and Goosebumps in your skin, nothing more.”

## Key features

- 2D Map-Centric Planner (Sun, Moon, Milky Way)
- 3D Augmented Reality Views
- Celestial Event Finder
- Photo Plans Manager
- Location Scouting Tool
- Calculators (Long Exposure, Timelapse, etc.)

## Chart rankings

- #2 in Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)
- #34 in Top Paid (US App Store)

## What do users think of PhotoPills?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Comprehensive planning tools
- 🚀 Powerful features for astrophotography
- 💡 Excellent tutorials and support
- 🌟 Indispensable for photographers
- ⭐ Incredible value for money

**Cons**

- 🤔 Steep learning curve
- 🤯 Overwhelming complexity
- 🤖 Confusing user interface
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes when using depth of field calculator
- Location settings not persisting between sessions
- Milky Way position not aligning correctly

**Most requested features**

- User guide in multiple languages
- Improved integration with other apps
- More customization options
- Weather forecast integration
- Apple Watch companion app

## Recent user reviews (10 of 475)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Practice Makes Per... Better

*2026-07-30, version 2.13.26*

The more I practice and the deeper I dive into the tutorials, the better prepared. I am for my Milky Way photo trips.

### 5/5 — Indispensable

*2026-07-04, version 2.13.25*

Contains everything you need and nothing you don’t.

### 5/5 — Best photography app available

*2026-06-24, version 2.13.25*

PhotoPills is the best money I’ve spent on any app. I can’t believe the value. I use it constantly and have learned to depend on it so much at this point I’d be lost without it.

### 5/5 — Butch

*2026-06-12, version 2.13.25*

Absolutely essential for planning and shooting astrological photos

### 1/5 — Too much junk

*2026-06-05*

They have a section from t-shirt to a whole page called “Academy.” Why don’t they create a button with the moon and sun together? Instead of focusing on a bunch of features, they should highlight the major ones.

### 5/5 — Great

*2026-06-04*

Simple & Powerful app

### 5/5 — Greatest Photo App in the World

*2026-05-31, version 2.13.25*

If you don’t get better pictures using this app then I’m a monkey’s uncle

### 5/5 — The Must Have App

*2026-05-30, version 2.13.25*

So, so valuable in your outdoor planning. I can't imagine being without it.

### 5/5 — Great photo app!

*2026-05-19, version 2.13.25*

It’s so easy to learn, and has great video tutorials.
It’s amazing how much this app will help with
your photography planning.

### 5/5 — Feature Packed!

*2026-05-16, version 2.13.25*

This app is crammed full of useful tools for planning photo shoots around the locations of the sun,moon and stars. Plus a whole lot more photography related calculators too.

Completely fantastic!

## Frequently asked questions about PhotoPills

### What does PhotoPills do?

PhotoPills is a comprehensive photography planning app designed to help users capture legendary photos. It allows you to visualize and plan shots involving the Sun, Moon, and Milky Way, offering tools like a 2D map planner, 3D augmented reality views, and various calculators for photographic techniques.

### What are the key features of PhotoPills?

Key features include a 2D map-centric planner for the Sun, Moon, and Milky Way, 3D augmented reality views to see celestial object positions, a fast finder for alignments, a photo plans manager, location scouting tools, and calculators for long exposure, timelapse, and depth of field.

### Is PhotoPills free to use?

The app is free to download and offers in-app purchases. While the core functionality is available, certain advanced features or content might require an in-app purchase to unlock.

### What kind of photos can I plan with PhotoPills?

You can plan a wide variety of photos, including landscapes with specific sunrises or sunsets, night sky shots of the Milky Way, and compositions involving the moon, such as supermoons or moonrises/sets behind landmarks. It's ideal for any scenario where precise timing and positioning of celestial bodies are crucial.

### What devices is PhotoPills compatible with?

PhotoPills is available for both iPhone and iPad, acting as a personal assistant for all photographic planning needs on these Apple devices.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.13.26 — 2026-07-24

- Cameras added: Canon EOS R6 V; Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS300, Lumix DC-L10.
- Bug fixes

Please, If you find a bug (or have a suggestion), send us an email to info@photopills.com and we'll fix it as soon as possible :)

### 2.13.25 — 2026-04-16

Bug fixes.

Please, If you find a bug (or have a suggestion), send us an email to info@photopills.com and we'll fix it as soon as possible :)

### 2.13.24 — 2026-03-19

- Cameras added: Apple iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max; Canon EOS R6 Mark III, EOS C70, EOS C80; Leica Q3 Monochrom; Sony a7 V.
- Bug fixes

Please, If you find a bug (or have a suggestion), send us an email to info@photopills.com and we'll fix it as soon as possible :)

### 2.13.23 — 2025-11-04

- Cameras added: Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS A; DJI Mavic 4 Pro; Fujifilm X-T30 III, X half, X-E5; Hasselblad X2D II 100C; Leica V-Lux 5, M EV1; Nikon ZR; OM System OM-5 II; Panasonic Lumix DC-S1II, Lumix DC-S1IIE; Ricoh GR IV, Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, GR IV HDF; Sony FX2, DSC-RX1R III.
- Bug fixes

Please, If you find a bug (or have a suggestion), send us an email to info@photopills.com and we'll fix it as soon as possible :)

### 2.13.22 — 2025-04-09

- Cameras added: Canon PowerShot V1, EOS R50 V; DJI Air 3S; Fujifilm GFX100RF; Leica SL3-S; Nikon Coolpix P1100, Z5 II; OM System OM-3; Panasonic Lumix DC-S1RII, Lumix DC-G97, Lumix DC-ZS99 (TZ99); Sigma BF.
- Bug fixes

Please, If you find a bug (or have a suggestion), send us an email to info@photopills.com and we'll fix it as soon as possible :)

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## Related topics

[photopills](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/photopills) · [the photographer's ephemeris](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-photographer-s-ephemeris) · [milky way](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/milky-way) · [milky way photo](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/milky-way-photo) · [astrophotography planner](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/astrophotography-planner) · [photo ephemeris](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/photo-ephemeris) · [pill photo](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pill-photo) · [time-lapse calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/time-lapse-calculator)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*