Solar Snap vs Seestar
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Solar Snap
Capture stunning photos of the sun and solar eclipses with this comprehensive app. It includes a camera filter system and an offline simulator with detailed eclipse information and timings for global events. Prepare for upcoming eclipses with expert guidance.
- Solar eclipse photography
- Camera filter integration
- Offline global eclipse simulator
- Detailed eclipse timings
- Expert video instructions
- Sun photography filter
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Everything you need for the next solar eclipse, all in one app! Introducing Solar Snap: a camera filter + app combo that can help you take amazing photos of the sun, whether there’s an eclipse, or any other day. Simply attach the filter to your phone, open Solar Snap, and snap away! Solar Snap also includes an interactive, offline global solar eclipse simulator, with detailed information and times to prepare you for the next eclipse, no matter where you are, where you are going, even if you don't have a signal! Solar Snap can be used with our Solar Snap filter kit available at: https://www.eclipseglasses.com/products/solar-snap-the-eclipse-app. This filter protects your phone camera from damage by the bright sun. You may optionally re-use old eclipse glasses by cutting a pair in half and taping it over your camera lens. Video instructions by Astronomer Doug Duncan included in the app. Total solar eclipses are crossing Europe and the Middle East in 2026 and 2027. Get ready!
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Seestar at Free against Solar Snap's $1.99. Seestar also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.1). Solar Snap's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (6.5K vs 354). On update cadence, 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
Seestar is free to download; Solar Snap costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Solar Snap holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solar Snap has 6.5K ratings behind it against 354, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Solar Snap's written reviews are positive against 62% of Seestar's.
Solar Snap ships an update every 6 weeks, Seestar monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Solar Snap | Seestar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (6.5K ratings) — better | 4.2 (354 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 71.3% of reviews — better | 61.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6.5K — better | 354 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #136 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rise Up Games | SuZhou ZWO Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
Solar Snap
Seestar
User reviews
Solar Snap
From 6.5K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 High-quality and stable app
- 🚀 Excellent for capturing eclipse photos
- 🔍 Powerful camera controls (focus, zoom, exposure)
- 🤖 Automatic total eclipse mode works great
- 📸 Produces clear, crisp photos
Room to improve
- 🐛 Issues with photos not being saved
- 🤔 Automatic lighting changes made photos terrible
- 🤷♂️ Struggled to capture partial eclipse stages
- 🧭 No option to use front-facing camera
Seestar
From 354 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Continuous updates
- 💡 Great value for money
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Excellent image quality
Room to improve
- 🐛 Firmware updates causing issues
- 🐛 Connectivity problems
- 🐛 Tracking and stability issues
- 🔋 Battery life concerns
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs after updates
Bugs and requests
Solar Snap
Reported bugs
2 issues- Photos permission required error
- Velcro mount issues causing distortion
Requested features
3 requests- Add remote shutter support (e.g., Bluetooth, Apple Watch)
- Support for external lenses/telescopes
- Ability to select camera lens on multi-camera phones
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
Solar Snap
No in-app purchases
Seestar
No in-app purchases









