SynScan vs iOptron Commander (iOS)
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.
iOptron Commander (iOS)
Control your iOptron telescope mount remotely using your iOS device. This utility allows for basic functions like slewing to celestial objects, syncing time and location, and managing compatible mount series.
- Remote telescope mount control
- Slew to stars and deepsky objects
- Sync time and site from iOS
- Supports HEM, HAE, HAZ, CEM, GEM series mounts
- Basic control functions
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This is an application for owner of iOptron telescope mounts to remote control their telescope mounts via iOS devices. This lite version has some basic function such as slew to famous stars, named deepsky objects, solar system, sync time and site from iOS devices, and etc. Compatible product list: All HEM series All HAE series All HAZ.series CEM120 series CEM70 series GEM45 series CEM40 series GEM28 series CEM26 series SkyHunter
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SynScan at 3.3 against iOptron Commander (iOS)'s 1.9. SynScan also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (22% vs 6%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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.
SynScan holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of SynScan's written reviews are positive against 6% of iOptron Commander (iOS)'s.
SynScan ships an update every 2 months, iOptron Commander (iOS) every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SynScan | iOptron Commander (iOS) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (8 ratings) — better | 1.9 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews — better | 6.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Astropower Technology Co. Ltd. | 成城 徐 |
Customer experience
SynScan
iOptron Commander (iOS)
In-app purchases
SynScan
No in-app purchases
iOptron Commander (iOS)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SynScan free?
Is iOptron Commander (iOS) free?
Which has better reviews, SynScan or iOptron Commander (iOS)?
Do SynScan or iOptron Commander (iOS) have ads?
Which is updated more often, SynScan or iOptron Commander (iOS)?
Other comparisons
