# The Photographer's Ephemeris vs Solar Eclipse Timer

The clearest difference is price: Solar Eclipse Timer at Free against The Photographer's Ephemeris's $9.99. Solar Eclipse Timer also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). The Photographer's Ephemeris's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (81% vs 69%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Solar Eclipse Timer is free to download; The Photographer's Ephemeris costs $9.99 up front. The Photographer's Ephemeris sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Solar Eclipse Timer sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Photographer's Ephemeris holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 561 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of The Photographer's Ephemeris's written reviews are positive against 69% of Solar Eclipse Timer's.

The Photographer's Ephemeris ships an update every 2 months, Solar Eclipse Timer monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Photographer's Ephemeris | Solar Eclipse Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670/reviews)** | [3.8 (561 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | 561 |
| Positive reviews | **81.0% of reviews** | 68.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#43** | — |
| Size | 95 MB | 231 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Crookneck Consulting LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/366195673) | [Foxwood Astronomy, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180239027) |

## What reviewers say

### The Photographer's Ephemeris

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670)

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Plan outdoor photography shoots with this map-centric calculator for sun, moon, and Milky Way positions. Visualize light direction, plan celestial alignments, and scout locations with augmented reality. Features offline maps and detailed celestial event data.

**Highlights:** Sun, Moon, and Milky Way rise/set times and positions, 3D Milky Way and star visualization, Augmented reality for on-location scouting, Offline map support, Shadow length visualization, Celestial event tracking

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Skyfire Plus (3-months) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Skyfire (3-months) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Skyfire Plus (3-months) | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent planning tool
- 🌄 Accurate sun/moon tracking
- 📍 Useful location-based features
- 🔍 Detailed information for photographers
- 🎨 Helps create better photos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Steep learning curve
- 🔍 Difficult to use interface
- 🔌 Skyfire feature not reliable
- 🗺️ Mapping issues in some areas
- 🔒 Subscription model for some features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when loading TPE-3D
- Logout issues with Skyfire subscription
- Inaccurate elevation data in some locations

**Requested features**

- Add tide information
- Improve location saving and syncing
- Provide better tutorials and documentation
- Integrate with other photography apps
- Add support for more regions/countries


### Solar Eclipse Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865)

This app provides precise countdowns and reminders for solar eclipse phenomena, aiding both casual observers and photographers. It works offline and offers features like automatic partial-phase image timing and a dedicated photographer mode.

**Highlights:** Offline eclipse timing, Precise contact time calculation, Photographer mode, Automatic partial-phase image timing, Geolocation and manual coordinate entry, Audio and notification tests

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total - 7/2/19; Chile, Argenti | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total - 12/14/20; Chile, Argen | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total – 12/4/21; Antarctica | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hybrid – 4/20/23; Australia | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total – 4/8/24; USA, Mexico | $1.99 | one-time |
| Solar Eclipse Timer | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate timing and announcements
- 👍 Enhanced eclipse viewing experience
- 🎉 Worked flawlessly for 2017 and 2024 eclipses
- 💡 Helpful for photographers and non-photographers
- 🔊 Useful audio cues and prompts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔍 Confusing or cluttered user interface
- 🔋 Audio prompts not working in some cases
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location detection or totality information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing when loading timing data
- Notifications not working when camera is in use
- Incorrect contact times displayed for some locations

**Requested features**

- Customizable reminders or timers
- Automatic time zone and location updates
- Lunar eclipse support
- Improved onboarding and tutorial
- Countdown timer with graphical depiction


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Photographer's Ephemeris free?

The Photographer's Ephemeris costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Solar Eclipse Timer free?

Solar Eclipse Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Photographer's Ephemeris or Solar Eclipse Timer?

The Photographer's Ephemeris is rated higher. The Photographer's Ephemeris averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Solar Eclipse Timer averages 3.8 from 561 ratings.

### Do The Photographer's Ephemeris or Solar Eclipse Timer have ads?

Neither The Photographer's Ephemeris nor Solar Eclipse Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Photographer's Ephemeris or Solar Eclipse Timer?

The Photographer's Ephemeris ships an update every 2 months, and Solar Eclipse Timer monthly. Most recently, The Photographer's Ephemeris was updated on November 1, 2026 and Solar Eclipse Timer on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*