# ioda vs SynScan Pro

The clearest difference is monetization model: ioda at free against SynScan Pro's paid. ioda also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (33% vs 22%). SynScan Pro's advantage is ratings volume (51 vs 2) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ioda holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SynScan Pro has 51 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of ioda's written reviews are positive against 22% of SynScan Pro's.

ioda ships an update every 5 months, SynScan Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ioda | SynScan Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ioda/id412436864/reviews)** | [2.6 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synscan-pro/id1302270121/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **51** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 21.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 64 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Guy Barrand](https://appshunter.io/developer/412436867) | [Astropower Technology Co. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787940478) |

## What reviewers say

### ioda

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ioda/id412436864)

This scientific application allows users to read and visualize data from various file formats commonly used in astronomy and high-energy physics. It supports formats like FITS, ROOT, HDF5, JPG, and FOG, and can execute specific script files.

**Highlights:** Read FITS, ROOT, HDF5, JPG, and FOG files, Browse and visualize data, Execute .kumac files, Includes gopaw core, Supports various scientific data schemas

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SynScan Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synscan-pro/id1302270121)

Control motorized telescope mounts for celestial observation and astrophotography. Features include precise slewing, alignment, GOTO, and tracking of stars, planets, and deep-sky objects. Supports advanced functions like polar alignment and camera triggering.

**Highlights:** Control telescope mount (slew, align, GOTO, track), Point and Track celestial objects, Gamepad navigation support, Catalog of celestial objects, Third-party app integration (ASCOM, SkySafari), Polar alignment (with or without polar scope), Camera shutter release control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ioda free?

ioda is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SynScan Pro free?

SynScan Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ioda or SynScan Pro?

ioda is rated higher. ioda averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while SynScan Pro averages 2.6 from 51 ratings.

### Do ioda or SynScan Pro have ads?

Neither ioda nor SynScan Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ioda or SynScan Pro?

ioda ships an update every 5 months, and SynScan Pro every 2 months. Most recently, ioda was updated on September 27, 2026 and SynScan Pro on October 9, 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.*