ioda vs Polar Scope Align Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ioda
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.
- Read FITS, ROOT, HDF5, JPG, and FOG files
- Browse and visualize data
- Execute .kumac files
- Includes gopaw core
- Supports various scientific data schemas
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ioda should be read "IO-DA", for Input/Output and for Data Analysis. It is a scientific application that permits to read files at various formats as FITS used in astronomy, ROOT and AIDA used in high energy physics (HEP), HDF5 with the g4tools data schema semantic, JPG format to store images and FOG developed at CEA/Saclay (France) to describe the LHC/ATLAS geometry. ioda permits to browse these files and visualise some of their data. Since 1.14.x, ioda contains the gopaw (=Good Old PAW) core and can execute .kumac files.
Polar Scope Align Pro
This app assists astronomers with precise polar alignment for telescopes, offering tools for various reticles and low-latitude accuracy. It also includes a comprehensive suite of astro tools, from object databases to calculators and weather reports.
- Accurate polar alignment calculation
- Support for numerous polar scope reticles
- Daytime/no polarscope alignment tool
- Deep Space Object database
- Astrophotography calculators
- World astro-weather report
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Polar Scope Align Pro is a complete toolkit for amateur astronomers: accurate polar alignment, deep-sky observing, astro weather, push-to/manual GoTo, iOptron mount WiFi control, widgets and more. All features and updates are free forever. Optional in-app purchases are just tips to support development. POLAR ALIGNMENT • Calculates Polaris or σ Octantis position for 30+ reticle types: iOptron, Astro-Physics, Takahashi, Skywatcher, Vixen, Celestron, Orion, Astrotrac and others* • Atmospheric refraction correction for accuracy at any latitude • Works with or without a polar scope ALIGNMENT WITHOUT A POLAR SCOPE • Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment: works day and night with just your phone's gyro • Camera Azimuth Calibration: use sun/moon/stars to calibrate gyro and align accurately without a compass, immune to magnetic interference • Laser / Hop Align: nighttime alignment for maximum accuracy with a laser or a scope with no view of Polaris • Live sky map guides you to the celestial pole in real time • Sun Finder helps you point your filtered telescope/telephoto to the Sun PUSH TO (MANUAL GOTO) • Attach your phone to any scope and convert it to manual/push GoTo • Select from a large database and use direct push or more accurate hop-to mode DEEP SKY OBJECT DATABASE • 22,000+ objects with altitude graphs, rise/set times and more info • Save and manage curated observing lists • Filter, search, sort and push to any target XASTERIA ASTRO WEATHER • Hourly astronomy forecasts from 7Timer, OpenWeather, MET Norway and Apple Weather, plus a configurable Multi-source forecast • Animated satellite Cloud Map with recent EUMETSAT and NASA infrared imagery • Aurora forecasts • ISS and bright satellite passes with an All Sky night chart, individual sky charts, live map tracking, and Tiangong and Hubble views • Solar eclipse tool with past and future eclipses, live mode with audio cues • Experimental eclipse camera for automated photoshoots of partial phase, diamond ring, Baily's beads, totality bracketing • Interactive light pollution map using World Atlas and recent VIIRS data CALCULATORS & TOOLS • 30+ calculators for observing and astrophotography • Moon phase calendar with altitude graphs • Solar eclipse calculator and simulator • Bubble level & Compass IOPTRON WIFI MOUNT CONTROL • Connect to WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts (HAE, HAZ, HEM, CEM, GEM and more) • Automatic date/time/location setup • Switch between Equatorial and Alt-Az on mounts that support both • Move & Sync: directional control with a live sky map • Point GoTo: aim your phone at a patch of sky and send the mount there • Current Point Query: find out what the mount is pointing at • GoTo any object from the DSO Database NIGHT-FRIENDLY • Red, green or white night mode with dimmer WIDGETS • Configurable Tonight and Multi astronomy weather forecasts • Upcoming bright satellite passes • Aurora probability, activity forecast and NOAA aurora map * Full list of supported reticles: Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, iOptron, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser / MSM, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen PF-L/Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX/Polarie Polar Axis Scopes, a Konus and several Polar Finders: Tuthill, Explore Scientific 8x50, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical. PoleMaster help view for South Hemisphere users.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polar Scope Align Pro at 97% against ioda's 33%. Polar Scope Align Pro also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (305 vs 2). ioda's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads 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
ioda is free to download; Polar Scope Align Pro costs $3.99 up front. Polar Scope Align Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ioda asks for nothing beyond the download.
Polar Scope Align Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align Pro has 305 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 97% of Polar Scope Align Pro's.
ioda ships an update every 5 months, Polar Scope Align Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ioda | Polar Scope Align Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) | 4.9 (305 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 97.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 305 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #67 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Guy Barrand | Dimitrios Kechagias |
Customer experience
ioda
Polar Scope Align Pro
Bugs and requests
ioda
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Polar Scope Align Pro
Reported bugs
2 issues- Weather Updates Not Working
- Compass Deflected by Mount
Requested features
2 requests- Add Observation Recording Feature
- Add Push To Option for DSO Objects
In-app purchases
ioda
No in-app purchases
Polar Scope Align Pro
- Tip 1x$0.99
- Tip 4x$3.99
- Tip 10x$9.99








