Comparison

EclipseTimesCalc vs Eclipse Explorer Plus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

EclipseTimesCalc

Features
Read full description

This uses the algorithms developed over the past 150 years along with the best information available about the locations of sun, moon, and earth to predict when an eclipse will occur at a particular location on the earth. In addition the prediction parameters are updated for the latest predictions by IERS. This is useful to find where to go, where to look, and how the moon will move across the sun. It also provides the sunrise/set times for the location

About

Eclipse Explorer Plus

Track upcoming solar eclipses with detailed circumstances, countdown timers, and real-time shadow maps. Uses your GPS to provide personalized eclipse data for your exact location.

Highlights
  • Solar eclipse tracking until 2100
  • Real-time shadow maps
  • Countdown timers
  • Location-specific circumstances
  • GPS integration for personalized data
  • Globe display for eclipse path
Features
Read full description

Be ready for the solar eclipses of 2027, and 2028 and for all solar eclipses until 2100! Where will the solar eclipse be? What will you see, when will you see it? The answers are provided here. The app will provide real time data on the day of the eclipse! **** WARNING **** NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PROPER AND CERTIFIED EYE PROTECTION! EYE DAMAGE WILL RESULT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUN AT ANY TIME (DURING THE ECLIPSE OR NOT) WITHOUT EYE PROTECTION. THIS APP NEVER PROVIDES A TIME THE SUN WILL BE SAFE TO LOOK AT. **** WARNING **** This simple app tracks the next solar eclipse visible to you or for any desired location on Earth. Provides countdown timers, visibility circumstances, and a map of the solar eclipse on Earth. Track the movement of the Moon and it's shadow across the Earth in realtime on the day of the eclipse. Use your device's GPS to calculate the circumstances of the Eclipse for you exact location. In case of clouds, be ready to move on the day of the Eclipse. Be sure of what you will see. PERMISSIONS: GPS: To track your location on a map to see your position relative to the location of the Moon's shadow on Earth. Uses your GPS location to calculate the timings of the eclipse at your location. Location data never leaves your device. PRIVACY: No data is collected or used while using this app. I do not have a way of collecting or storing it. Updates v4.6.0 Added: Map now displays as a globe. Improved: Map display engine more efficient and performant. Improved: Eclipse list display performance. Changed: Now using MapLibre GL JS for map display. Changed: Map data providers Fixed: Long press on map to change desired location more reliable. Fixed: Next eclipse in catalog time buffer math. Fixed: Eclipse list display scrolling. v4.5.1 Fixed: Eclipse list catalog choice bugs. Fixed: Layer button fires when not clicked. Fixed: Layer selector now disappears after all selections. Improved: Eclipse list catalog sorting choice buttons, logic, and user prompts. Improved: Added eclipse status bar icon and button prompt. Improved: UI positioning for different devices. v4.5.0 Complete code re-write for drawing eclipse lines and shadows. Eclipse line boundaries are more accurate and display for all solar eclipses now, even near the poles! Penumbra, antumbral, and umbral shadows now always display and display properly near the poles. The backwards total solar eclipse of 2026 now displays! Still some minor issues with lines drawn near the poles, but it is close. Shadow movement and drawing is much faster. Numerous bug fixes. Numerous memory leaks fixed. v4.0.6 Added: Corona display in simulation during totality. Fixed: Memory leak and duplicate shadow drawing in certain situations. Fixed: Eclipse circumstances displayed wrong duration for certain eclipses Fixed: Eclipse circumstances displayed in wrong sequence for certain eclipses. Improved: Clicking on search box in map mode v4.0.4 Fixed meters and feet elevation display issue. Fixed Eclipse Title Display when map page opens initially. Fixed loading error, no longer wait for elevation data. 4.0.3 Updated app libraries and built with latest build tools. Fixed App crash and hang when calculating some eclipse maps. More eclipse lines drawn in polar adjacent solar eclipses. More eclipse shadows in polar adjacent solar eclipses. 4.0.2: - Fixed: Warning Dialog no longer overlays location request dialog. - Fixed: Lunar shadow drawing displays properly when switching eclipses - Fixed: Help link in About dialog now properly links to help website. 4.0.1 Initial release to iOS. - Fixed: Scrolling issue on circumstance page - Improved: GPS initialization. - Fixed: Long press event did not alway fire on map page. - Fixed: Magnitude not displayed properly. - Fixed: Coverage information is now correct. - Fixed: Switching locations did not always move map. 4.0.0 Initial release Complete code rewrite from previous version.

Screenshots

EclipseTimesCalc4 screens
Eclipse Explorer Plus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: EclipseTimesCalc at Free against Eclipse Explorer Plus's $1.99. Eclipse Explorer Plus's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

EclipseTimesCalc is free to download; Eclipse Explorer Plus costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EclipseTimesCalc ships an update every 4 months, Eclipse Explorer Plus weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
EclipseTimesCalc versus Eclipse Explorer Plus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEclipseTimesCalcEclipse Explorer Plus
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.018.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerrobert hawleyJoshua Berlin

In-app purchases

None

EclipseTimesCalc

No in-app purchases

None

Eclipse Explorer Plus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EclipseTimesCalc free?
EclipseTimesCalc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Eclipse Explorer Plus free?
Eclipse Explorer Plus costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do EclipseTimesCalc or Eclipse Explorer Plus have ads?
Neither EclipseTimesCalc nor Eclipse Explorer Plus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EclipseTimesCalc or Eclipse Explorer Plus?
EclipseTimesCalc ships an update every 4 months, and Eclipse Explorer Plus weekly. Most recently, EclipseTimesCalc was updated on October 2, 2026 and Eclipse Explorer Plus on September 30, 2026.

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