Comparison

Astro Max Calculator vs Seestar

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

Head to head
About

Astro Max Calculator

Features
Read full description

Astrophotographers often use the "500 Rule" as a way to estimate the maximum shutter speed that can be used to capture the night sky before star trailing becomes noticeable. Here is a simple calculator, in night vision friendly red (or daytime color mode), to find recommended maximum shutter speeds based on your lens focal length and digital camera sensor's crop ratio. The 500 Rule is just a starting point for night sky astrophotography. You can try selecting a more conservative rule in the app (400, 300, etc.) for better focused shots. As always, experiment and find out what works best with your setup! Developer Note: This is my first App Store release. Please let me know how this app works for you, how it doesn't, or what you would like to see in further updates. Thanks!

About

Seestar

Explore the universe with a smart telescope that simplifies stargazing. Automatically find, focus, and capture celestial objects without professional guidance. Observe stars, the sun, and even landscapes with intuitive app control.

Highlights
  • Wireless control of telescope
  • Automatic celestial object finding and tracking
  • Solar observation with filter
  • Scenery mode for terrestrial viewing
  • Built-in sky atlas and encyclopedia
  • Stargazing index and recommendations
  • Share observations with community
Features
Read full description

Take the first step in exploring the universe! The Seestar smart telescope will give you a stargazing experience like never before. No need for professional guidance, just tap on the screen and you are ready to observe and capture the stars. Seestar is a smart device that integrates the functions of an altazimuth mount, telescope, and camera, with both hardware and software applications. With the Seestar App, you can easily control this multifunctional device and explore the infinite world of stars. Key features: - Wireless control: Control with Seestar device through wireless connection. - Stargazing Mode: Automatically find and focus on celestial objects, intelligently identify stars and track them for automatic capturing and image processing. - Solar Mode: Support auto-scan and solar tracking. Use the included Solar Filter to observe the unique sun. - Scenery mode: Manually control the telescope direction and auto-focus, so you can enjoy observing birds and landscapes. -Sky Atlas: Built-in curated celestial object database AND a rich astronomical knowledge encyclopedia,help you easily understand the mystery of starry sky. - Stargazing Index forecasts and popular Recommendations: Stay updated with popular information, making you an expert in astronomical events. - Share Your Work in the Square: Engage and exchange insights with astronomy enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing your observational achievements. - Adaptation Model: It will work with all Seestar models. Seestar is your ideal companion for exploring the universe, observing the stars and sharing experiences. Download Seestar App now and Explore the universe with Seestar.

Screenshots

Astro Max Calculator4 screens
Seestar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Astro Max Calculator at weekly against Seestar's monthly. On price, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Astro Max Calculator ships an update weekly, Seestar monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Astro Max Calculator versus Seestar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAstro Max CalculatorSeestar
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.2 (356 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—62.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—356 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB1.3 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGregory WuSuZhou ZWO Co., Ltd

Bugs and requests

Astro Max Calculator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Seestar

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Firmware update cycle preventing settings changes
  • Tracking errors and star trailing issues
  • App crashing on startup
  • Inability to connect to telescope
  • Forced firmware updates during use

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add equatorial mode support
  • Provide fine control of exposure time
  • Implement mosaic mode for wider FOV
  • Add support for iPad landscape mode
  • Integrate with other astronomy apps

In-app purchases

None

Astro Max Calculator

No in-app purchases

None

Seestar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Astro Max Calculator free?
Astro Max Calculator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Seestar free?
Seestar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Astro Max Calculator or Seestar have ads?
Neither Astro Max Calculator nor Seestar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Astro Max Calculator or Seestar?
Astro Max Calculator ships an update weekly, and Seestar monthly. Most recently, Astro Max Calculator was updated on November 3, 2026 and Seestar on November 7, 2026.

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