Comparison

Timecode vs Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre

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

Head to head
About

Timecode

Calculate and convert video timecode, film footage, and frames. This tool simplifies editing and post-production calculations, offering results in multiple formats and supporting various video and film standards.

Highlights
  • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide timecodes
  • View results in timecode, frames, or film footage
  • Supports video frame rates and drop/non-drop frame
  • Film gauge options for frames, feet, and meters
  • Local calculation history
  • Share calculations as text
Features
Read full description

Add clip lengths, work out differences and see the result in video timecode, frames or film footage. Timecode Pro brings everyday editing and post-production calculations into one calculator. SEE YOUR RESULT FOUR WAYS Add and subtract timecodes, multiply or divide values, and compare the result in four configurable displays. Choose the formats you need for the job. WORK IN VIDEO OR FILM Select video frame rates and drop-frame or non-drop-frame timecode. For film, choose a gauge and work in frames, feet, feet and frames, metres or rolls. KEEP CALCULATIONS AT HAND Review earlier calculations in local history and share them as text. History stays on this device and does not sync between devices. The interface is available in English, French, German and Spanish. Made for iPhone and iPad, with support for iPad windows. Share calculation text from history when you need to pass on a result. Requires iOS or iPadOS 26 or later. Timecode Pro for iPhone and iPad is listed as Timecode on the App Store. Timecode Pro for Mac is sold separately.

About

Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre

Plan your photo and video shoots with precision by predicting the exact position of the sun, moon, and stars. Visualize light and shadow in various environments, from urban landscapes to underwater scenes, ensuring you capture the perfect shot at the ideal moment.

Highlights
  • Live View camera overlay
  • Street View sun mapping
  • 360º image integration
  • 3D landscape visualization
  • 3D building shadow prediction
  • Underwater light reaction analysis
Features
Read full description

The greatest challenge faced ny photographers and cinematographers when shooting on location is predicting where the sun, moon or stars might be at any given moment, to create the best visual effect. It's a time critical process, to be in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time. It might be predicting where the sun will set behind a wide shot of Manhattan on a particular day... It might be planning when to shoot the moon so it perfectly backlights the ocean... It might be to schedule where the Milky Way might be at its brightest at the edge of the Sahara Desert... Helios is the one tool you need to plan in any of these situations. Included in Helios are a number of tools suitable for different situations: Live View This allows you to see a camera overlay showing where the sun might appear through a window. Just frame up the shot you want to do, and observe where the sun might be at any time, on any day in the future. Street View The position of the sun on any future day is mapped over the 360º images in Google Street View. Virtual Stand-Ins of people, animals & vehicles can be placed to view how the sun or moon might light them. MapView This is graphic representation of the position and height of the sun on a top-down map. Great when planning multiple shots in a specific location throughout a shooting day. 3D Landscape View Using modeled 3D landscapes, the path and character of the sun can be visualized during the course of a day. Again, Virtual -Stand-Ins can be used to help visualize how light might make subject look different at various times during the day. 3D Building View Using the same tools as 3D Landscape view, this is for use in urban settings, where building throw shadows, depending on where the sun might be at any given time. Underwater View Helps predict the way light reacts when shooting beneath the waves. From our users.... Craig Wrobleski CSC Cinematographer FUBAR, A Man in Full, Matlock,The Umbrella Academy, Fargo, Legion, In the Tall Grass, X-Files “Both Artemis Pro and Helios Pro have become indispensable tools for me. Artemis is the most effective way to find common compositional ground with directors and camera operators, and is especially great for large format cameras like the Alexa 65 and the LF. Helios Pro is invaluable for scouting and scheduling the day to chase the light and capture it. The new features in Helios Pro mean you can be in a meeting and show everyone how the light will travel in a 3D rendering of an exterior location on the exact day we plan to shoot. I can’t imagine working without these tools.” Robert McLachlan ASC, CSC Cinematographer/Director American Gigolo, 1923, Yellowstone, Landman,Ray Donovan, The Affair, Game of Thrones, Westworld “On Game of Thrones we often scouted locations months in advance...it was critical in the down to the minute schedule planning we made for the Dance of Dragons sequence...with Helios you’re way ahead of the game in both prep and on set.” Oliver Curtis BSC Cinematographer Urban Myths, Hamlet Within, A Little Life, ,The Wedding Date, Death at a Funeral, Owning Mahowny, Vanity Fair "Helios has become an indispensable tool in my work... With the addition of AR in Helios Pro the level of preparedness for all departments is that much higher. With today’s budgets and schedules this level of information accuracy is invaluable.” Gary Varney Gaffer Eternals, The King's Man, Wicked,The Deep Blue Sea, Sexy Beast / Gaffer 2nd Unit Jack Ryan, Kick Ass, American Assassin “Helios just blows you away. To have the ability to overlay 3D models of people, buildings or vehicles to see just how the light falls on them throughout the day is incredible. I highly recommend Helios." Mairzee Almas Director Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Jessica Jones, Y: The Last Man, The Sandman,iZombie, Guilt, 12 Monkeys, The Last Ship, Smallville "I use both Artemis and Helios when scouting and find them both invaluable tools for prep."

Screenshots

Timecode4 screens
Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Timecode at $3.99 against Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre's $29.99. Timecode also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.5) and review sentiment (81% vs 58%). Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Timecode costs $3.99 and Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre $29.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Timecode holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Timecode's written reviews are positive against 58% of Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Timecode ships an update every 6 months, Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Timecode versus Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTimecodeHelios Sun, Moon, Star Pre
Price$3.99 — better$29.99
Rating4.6 (24 ratings) — better3.5 (20 ratings)
Positive reviews80.6% of reviews — better57.7% of reviews
Number of ratings24 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.018.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB134 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPanoptikChemical Wedding

Customer experience

Timecode

All ratings24 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive80.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative19.4%

Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre

All ratings20 ratings
Positive65.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.0%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive57.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative38.5%

In-app purchases

None

Timecode

No in-app purchases

None

Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Timecode free?
Timecode costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre free?
Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Timecode or Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre?
Timecode is rated higher. Timecode averages 4.6 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre averages 3.5 from 20 ratings.
Do Timecode or Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre have ads?
Neither Timecode nor Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Timecode or Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre?
Timecode ships an update every 6 months, and Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre every 2 weeks. Most recently, Timecode was updated on November 6, 2026 and Helios Sun, Moon, Star Pre on November 6, 2026.

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