Astro Tools vs NightlyStar
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Astro Tools
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Every astronomy tool, in a single app. Astro Tools brings together the astronomy tools from Polar Scope Align Pro and Xasteria, while adding new tools including an Augmented Reality Sky Planner and a Digital Finderscope. It is a complete toolkit for amateur astronomers: plan the night, find targets, aim a telescope, check the weather, follow satellites, calculate an imaging setup and explore the sky - all from one app. PLAN THE NIGHT SKY Use any date, time and location to plan ahead. Browse Moon phases by month, with Moon and Sun rise, set and altitude graphs plus twilight times. Compare astronomy-focused forecasts for cloud layers, seeing, transparency, wind and precipitation, or use the Multi forecast to combine 7Timerβs astronomy data with MET Norway or Apple Weather forecasts. Check aurora forecasts, light pollution, animated satellite cloud maps, and the visibility of the ISS and other bright satellites. WIDGETS Keep essential observing information on your Home Screen. Widgets provide astronomy weather forecasts, aurora conditions and upcoming satellite passes. FIND AND OBSERVE Explore more than 22,000 deep-sky objects, stars and Solar System targets. Search, filter and create observing lists, then see object details and altitude charts. Turn a manual telescope into a Push-To system: attach your phone, select a target and follow live arrows. Sync on a known star or use star-hopping for improved accuracy. Digital Finderscope provides a live, zoomable sky map that follows your phone and guides you to a selected target. SEE THE SKY IN AUGMENTED REALITY AR Sky Planner overlays a star chart on your live camera view. Move through time to see where targets will be above the horizon or behind landmarks, whether you are planning an observing session or a nightscape photograph. LOCATE OBJECTS IN YOUR ASTROPHOTOS Plate Solver identifies the stars in a photo to find its sky coordinates, field of view and orientation. Overlay constellation lines and object labels on the image. ALIGN, MEASURE AND CONTROL Polar-align a star tracker or equatorial mount without a polar scope, even in daylight. Start with the compass or calibrate using the camera on the Sun, Moon or stars. Use Laser / Hop Align when the pole star is obstructed, measure level and tilt, inspect GPS and sensor data, or control compatible iOptron WiFi mounts. FOR OBSERVERS AND IMAGERS More than 30 calculators cover observing and astrophotography, with shared inputs and remembered values for quick comparisons. Find and simulate solar eclipses for your exact location, and use tools for field of view, magnification, exposure, focal length, image scale and more. Whether you observe with binoculars, a manual telescope, a GoTo mount or an imaging rig, Astro Tools keeps the information and practical tools you need close at hand. Many tools are completely free, for the rest there is a single Pro subscription with a free trial. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
NightlyStar
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NightlyStar turns early sleep check-ins into a quiet pact with the night sky. Each evening, record your sleep rhythm and light a star that belongs to you. Enter your birth time and city to reveal your natal chart, synastry, planetary transits, and Mercury retrograde messages. The Sun, Moon, rising sign, and planetary aspects form a hidden celestial map of temperament, attraction, emotional tides, and the unseen rhythm of your present path. Read the stars. Return to yourself. Let sleep become a ritual.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Astro Tools at none against NightlyStar's shown. NightlyStar's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Astro Tools sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and NightlyStar sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Astro Tools ships an update every 10 days, NightlyStar every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Astro Tools | NightlyStar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days β better | Every 11 days |
| Ads | No β better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod β better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15 | 13.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 44 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Dimitrios Kechagias | ζΉεηιΈθΎη§ζ |
In-app purchases
Astro Tools
- Astro Tools Pro Monthly3 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Astro Tools Pro 6 Months3 Days trial$2.996 Months
- Astro Tools Pro Annual3 Days trial$4.991 Year
NightlyStar
- Cosmic Access β Monthly$4.991 Month
- Nightly Star Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
- Cosmic Access β Yearly$39.991 Year
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- Nightly Star Premium Yearly$59.991 Year
Questions
Is Astro Tools free?
Is NightlyStar free?
Do Astro Tools or NightlyStar have ads?
Which is updated more often, Astro Tools or NightlyStar?
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