# Luminos vs Smart Telescope Planner

The clearest difference is price: Smart Telescope Planner at Free against Luminos's $19.99. Luminos's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Smart Telescope Planner is free to download; Luminos costs $19.99 up front. Smart Telescope Planner sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Luminos asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Luminos | Smart Telescope Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminos/id404664336/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 90.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 930 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wobbleworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/404664339) | [Richard Derry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895668428) |

## What reviewers say

### Luminos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luminos/id404664336)

This astronomy companion app, after 12 years of updates, is being retired. A more advanced version, Luminos Pro, is available with new features and ongoing support. This version remains accessible for existing users.

**Highlights:** Astronomy software, 12 years of updates, Retired version, Advanced version available (Luminos Pro), Continued support for existing customers

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent astronomy app
- 🔭 Comprehensive features and information
- 🌌 Beautiful and intuitive interface
- 🔍 Helpful for both beginners and advanced users
- 🌍 Accurate tracking of celestial objects and satellites

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔧 Difficulty configuring for use with telescopes
- 🔒 Concerns about subscription model changes
- 🔍 Steep learning curve for some features
- 🔍 Lack of instructions or user guide

**Reported bugs**

- Motion tracking and compass not working properly
- Saved telescope settings erased after updates
- Slow response times and location detection issues
- Inconsistent behavior when tapping on objects

**Requested features**

- Add historical constellations
- Integrate national borders when searching
- Include exoplanets information
- Improve motion tracking and orientation
- Add observation forecast based on weather conditions


### Smart Telescope Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-telescope-planner/id6768153445)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20-day Trial | Free | one-time |
| Full Access | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Luminos free?

Luminos costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Smart Telescope Planner free?

Smart Telescope Planner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Luminos or Smart Telescope Planner have ads?

Neither Luminos nor Smart Telescope Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Luminos or Smart Telescope Planner?

Luminos ships an update every 2 weeks, and Smart Telescope Planner every 2 weeks. Most recently, Luminos was updated on November 1, 2026 and Smart Telescope Planner on October 29, 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.*