SynScan vs ScopeWizard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SynScan
Control motorized telescope mounts for celestial object tracking and exploration. Features include GOTO functionality, object catalogs, and gamepad navigation. Ideal for novice users with alt-azimuth mounts.
- Control telescope mount slew, align, GOTO, and track
- Point and Track celestial objects
- Support gamepad navigation
- Browse and save celestial object catalogs
- Third-party app integration (ASCOM, SkySafari, Stellarium)
- Emulator mount for testing
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Use the SynScan app to control Sky-Watcher telescope mounts via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE. Mounts without built-in Wi-Fi can be supported via a SynScan Wi-Fi adapter. This version of the SynScan app is suited for novice users using alt-azimuth mounts. Features - Control telescope mount to slew, align, GOTO and track. - Point And Track: track celestial objects (including the Sun and planets) without aligning. - Support gamepad navigation. - Browse a catalog of stars, comets, and deep sky objects. Or, save your own objects. - Provide access to mount for use by third-party apps, including ASCOM clients, SkySafari, Luminos, Stellarium Mobile Plus, Stellarium Desktop or customer-developed apps. Also set up mount alignment for Luminos, Skysafari. - Support access to the mount and the SynScan app from any platform that supports TCP/UDP connections. - Provide emulator mount for testing and practicing. - Track fast-moving earth satellites by working with the PreviSat app on Windows PC or the Lumios app on iOS devices.
ScopeWizard
This app simplifies telescope, eyepiece, and camera calculations with a unified database of equipment. Easily mix and match your gear or input custom values for precise specifications.
- Unified formula database
- Equipment database
- Mix and match gear
- Custom value input
- Telescope specifications calculation
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There are numerous formulas for computing the specifics of your telescope, eyepieces, and camera's characteristics when used together. ScopeWizard brings those formulas together in one handy place. An included database of telescopes, eyepieces, and cameras can be used to mix and match your equipment, or you can enter custom values manually.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ScopeWizard at 5.0 against SynScan's 3.3. SynScan's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 25 months) and ratings volume (8 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ScopeWizard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynScan has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
SynScan ships an update every 2 months, ScopeWizard every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and June 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SynScan | ScopeWizard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (8 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 25 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Astropower Technology Co. Ltd. | Richard Wright |
Customer experience
SynScan
ScopeWizard
In-app purchases
SynScan
No in-app purchases
ScopeWizard
No in-app purchases
