SynScan Photo vs iOptron Commander (iOS)
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SynScan Photo
Control Skywatcher AZ-Mounts for astrophotography tasks like panoramas and time-lapses. Requires a mount with a Wi-Fi module and specific firmware version.
- Control Skywatcher AZ-Mounts
- Perform panoramic photography
- Create time-lapse sequences
- Execute multiple-point scans
- Wi-Fi module required
- Firmware version 3.20+ needed
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SynScan Photo can control a Skywatcher AZ-Mount(i.e. AZ-GTi、Star Discovery、SynScan AZ80...)to perform multiple photographic tasks, including panorama, time-lapse or multiple-points scan. Note: A mount with a built-in Wi-Fi module must be used, and the motor firmware of the mount is version 3.20 or higher.
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
SynScan Photo and iOptron Commander (iOS) both sit at 2.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 50% of SynScan Photo's written reviews are positive against 6% of iOptron Commander (iOS)'s. SynScan Photo also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). iOptron Commander (iOS)'s advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 2). On price, rating, 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 Photo holds the better App Store score, 2.0 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iOptron Commander (iOS) has 15 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of SynScan Photo's written reviews are positive against 6% of iOptron Commander (iOS)'s.
SynScan Photo ships an update every 3 months, iOptron Commander (iOS) every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | SynScan Photo | iOptron Commander (iOS) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (2 ratings) — better | 1.8 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 6.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 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 | 12.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SynUe Tech. Co., Ltd | 成城 徐 |
Customer experience
SynScan Photo
iOptron Commander (iOS)
In-app purchases
SynScan Photo
No in-app purchases
iOptron Commander (iOS)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SynScan Photo free?
Is iOptron Commander (iOS) free?
Which has better reviews, SynScan Photo or iOptron Commander (iOS)?
Do SynScan Photo or iOptron Commander (iOS) have ads?
Which is updated more often, SynScan Photo or iOptron Commander (iOS)?
Other comparisons
