Comparison

LightPlan vs XFlyMap

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

Head to head
About

LightPlan

Visualize the sun and moon's path in 3D on real-world terrain to plan outdoor photography. See golden hour, blue hour, and shadows with precision. Save locations and camera angles for perfect shots.

Highlights
  • Photorealistic 3D sun and moon visualization
  • Interactive timeline for golden hour and blue hour
  • 3D building shadow visualization
  • Smart location library with custom camera angles
  • Syncs locations across devices
  • Elevation charts and compass
Features
Read full description

Plan Perfect Outdoor Shots with Stunning 3D Sun, Moon & Milky Way Visualization See exactly where the sun, moon, and Milky Way will be at any time with photorealistic 3D visualization overlaid on real‑world terrain. Turn your photography from guesswork into precision planning. Why Photographers Love LightPlan Photorealistic 3D Visualization — The only app that shows celestial paths in true 3D space. Watch the sun arc across mountains and the moon rise behind city skylines with pinpoint accuracy. Choose Your Map — Switch between photorealistic 3D, 2D satellite, and a true 3D terrain map with real elevation. Your sun and moon paths stay aligned, even behind ridgelines. Weather That Matters for Light — Overlay a cloud‑cover forecast to find clear skies for astro or dramatic clouds for golden hour, plus a precipitation layer — all scrubbable along the timeline. Plan the Milky Way — Find the dark‑sky window, galactic‑core direction and altitude, and the best nights this month. Golden Hour Perfection — An interactive timeline shows golden hour, blue hour, sunrise, and sunset with color‑coded periods and elevation charts. See the day's light at a glance. Moon Calendar — Scroll month‑by‑month moon phases; tap any day for moonrise, sun & twilight times, and eclipses. Shadow View — Visualize real‑time 3D building shadows through the day and across seasons — perfect for photographers, architects, or anyone studying how light shapes a place. Smart Location Library — Save shooting spots with custom camera angles, organize them into folders for trips, and sync across all your devices. Home Screen Widgets — Golden hour, moonrise/moonset, and tonight's Milky Way visibility at a glance. Perfect for Every Photographer • Real Estate — Plan exteriors for flattering light, avoid harsh shadows, and time twilight shoots when interiors glow against a blue‑hour sky. • Landscape — Scout remotely; know when the sun aligns with a peak or canyon wall, and check the cloud forecast first. • Astro & Night — Plan around the dark‑sky window and galactic core, line up the moon with a foreground, and pick the clearest nights. • Wedding — Mark ceremony and portrait spots in advance and know exactly when golden hour begins. • Commercial & Architectural — See when sunlight hits glass facades at the ideal angle and plan multi‑day shoots around optimal light. Free Forever • 3D sun & moon paths for anywhere on Earth • Multiple map engines — photorealistic 3D, 2D satellite & 3D terrain • Plan up to 72 hours ahead • All preset camera angles • Complete rise/set timings • Golden & blue hour calculations • Full elevation charts • Moon calendar with eclipses • Tonight's Milky Way window • 3D Compass LightPlan Pro • Unrestricted dates to plan any shoot, any time • Unlimited locations • Weather layers — cloud cover & precipitation forecasts • 30‑night Milky Way forecast & alerts • Shadow View — real‑time building shadows • Custom camera presets • Home screen widgets — golden hour, moon & Milky Way • Folder organization • Priority support • Early access to new features What Photographers Are Saying "Finally, an app that shows me exactly where the sun will be without a PhD in astronomy." "The 3D visualization is a game‑changer. I can see my shot before I even leave the house." "Beautifully designed and actually fun to use." Privacy‑focused design · No ads, ever · Works worldwide Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://lightplan.app/privacy.html

About

XFlyMap

Features
Read full description

Fly Smart. Fly Safe. With XFlyMap. Whether you're a hobbyist or a certified pilot, XFlyMap gives you a clear, real-time view of where you can and can't fly your drone. KEY FEATURES (Premium Subscription Required): • Interactive Drone Map – See active no-fly zones and restricted airspace. • Location-Based Warnings – Get instant feedback if you're in or near a restricted zone. • Search Functionality – Find cities, zones, or restriction areas by name or ID. • Romatsa Integration – Accurate Romanian airspace data, directly from the source. • Customizable Map Layers – Choose which types of restrictions you want to see. • Always Updated – New zones and regulations are synced regularly. • Modern, Intuitive Design – Built for pilots who want clarity, not clutter. WHO IT'S FOR: FPV pilots Recreational drone hobbyists Professional drone operators Commercial drone services Drone educators and trainers WHY XFLYMAP? Forget guessing. Forget outdated maps. XFlyMap gives you precision airspace info, right in your pocket — with a clean UI and powerful features made for real drone flyers. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS: • 2-week free trial available • All features require premium subscription after trial period • Subscription auto-renews unless cancelled Download now and start your 2-week free trial! https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ https://doc-hosting.flycricket.io/xflymap-terms-of-use/3aee7141-ce8e-4154-93a7-61baea36f613/terms

Screenshots

LightPlan4 screens
XFlyMap2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: XFlyMap at 15.1 against LightPlan's 18.6. 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. LightPlan sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and XFlyMap sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
LightPlan versus XFlyMap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightPlanXFlyMap
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRivolu LLCAlexandru Goman

In-app purchases

3 purchases

LightPlan

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Membership$59.99
2 purchases

XFlyMap

Subscriptions2
  • XFlyMap Monthly$2.991 Month
  • XFlyMap Annual$34.991 Year

Questions

Is LightPlan free?
LightPlan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is XFlyMap free?
XFlyMap is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LightPlan or XFlyMap have ads?
Neither LightPlan nor XFlyMap shows ads.

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