# Solar Eclipse Timer vs TripVault

The clearest difference is rating: TripVault at 5.0 against Solar Eclipse Timer's 3.8. TripVault also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6). Solar Eclipse Timer's advantage is ratings volume (560 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Solar Eclipse Timer sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. TripVault asks for nothing beyond the download.

TripVault holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solar Eclipse Timer has 560 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Solar Eclipse Timer ships an update monthly, TripVault every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Solar Eclipse Timer | TripVault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (560 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tripvault/id6761081052/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **560** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 68.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 231 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Foxwood Astronomy, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180239027) | [Ambles Kwok](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887692114) |

## What reviewers say

### Solar Eclipse Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865)

This app provides precise countdowns and reminders for solar eclipse phenomena, aiding both casual observers and photographers. It works offline and offers features like automatic partial-phase image timing and a dedicated photographer mode.

**Highlights:** Offline eclipse timing, Precise contact time calculation, Photographer mode, Automatic partial-phase image timing, Geolocation and manual coordinate entry, Audio and notification tests

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total - 7/2/19; Chile, Argenti | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total - 12/14/20; Chile, Argen | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total – 12/4/21; Antarctica | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hybrid – 4/20/23; Australia | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total – 4/8/24; USA, Mexico | $1.99 | one-time |
| Solar Eclipse Timer | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate timing and announcements
- 👍 Enhanced eclipse viewing experience
- 🎉 Worked flawlessly for 2017 and 2024 eclipses
- 💡 Helpful for photographers and non-photographers
- 🔊 Useful audio cues and prompts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔍 Confusing or cluttered user interface
- 🔋 Audio prompts not working in some cases
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location detection or totality information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing when loading timing data
- Notifications not working when camera is in use
- Incorrect contact times displayed for some locations

**Requested features**

- Customizable reminders or timers
- Automatic time zone and location updates
- Lunar eclipse support
- Improved onboarding and tutorial
- Countdown timer with graphical depiction


### TripVault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tripvault/id6761081052)

Effortlessly gather all photos from group trips in one shared space. Automatically scans your gallery for images taken during specific travel dates, allowing easy review and upload. Ensures all members can contribute, even without installing the app.

**Highlights:** Automatic photo discovery by date, Shared photo vaults for groups, Web upload for non-app users, Photo preview and approval, Privacy controls and admin management, Organized by trip

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Solar Eclipse Timer free?

Solar Eclipse Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TripVault free?

TripVault is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Solar Eclipse Timer or TripVault?

TripVault is rated higher. Solar Eclipse Timer averages 3.8 out of 5 from 560 ratings, while TripVault averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Solar Eclipse Timer or TripVault have ads?

Neither Solar Eclipse Timer nor TripVault shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Solar Eclipse Timer or TripVault?

Solar Eclipse Timer ships an update monthly, and TripVault every 3 weeks. Most recently, Solar Eclipse Timer was updated on September 20, 2026 and TripVault on September 11, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*