Altimeter+ vs Celestial Navigation
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Altimeter+
This app measures your current altitude using GPS, ASTER data, or your device's barometer. It offers an integrated map with peak data, a compass, and distance grids, functioning even without active GPS.
- GPS, ASTER, and barometer altitude measurement
- Average altitude calculation
- Integral map with peak indicator
- Compass and distance grid
- Apple Watch support
- Works without active GPS
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Altimeter+ altimeter calculates the altitude of your current location via a GPS, Aster or barometer measurement (for iPhone 6 and later). In addition to this, the app also provides an average calculation of GPS and ASTER altitude data as well as an integral map which shows peaks, a compass and a distance grid. Features: - Apple Watch support! - Barometer altitude measurement (iPhone 6 and later) - Altimeter with GPS or ASTER measurement - GPS/ASTER average calculation - Unit of measurement - imperial or metric - Integral map with Apple maps and peak indicator, compass and distance grid - Also functions without active GPS Peak data from peakhunter.com
Celestial Navigation
This application assists with celestial navigation by performing sextant sight reduction calculations. It displays intermediate numbers for verification and can draw lines of position on a map. Features include a perpetual nautical almanac and a star finder to identify celestial bodies.
- Sextant sight reduction calculations
- Perpetual nautical almanac
- Line of position calculation and plotting
- Star Finder for celestial identification
- Save and manage sextant readings
- Display intermediate calculation numbers
Read full descriptionHide full description
This app does all the calculations to reduce a sextant reading to a line of position on the map. All intermediate numbers are shown to check your manual calculations. • Perpetual nautical almanac • Calculation of the line of position (azimuth and distance) • Draws the line of position on the map. • Star Finder: just point your device to the sky to identify the navigational stars. • Save your readings, choose what to show on the map. A sextant is required to make full use of this app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Altimeter+ at free against Celestial Navigation's paid. Altimeter+ also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (700 vs 15). Celestial Navigation's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
Altimeter+ costs $1.99 and Celestial Navigation $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Altimeter+ holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Altimeter+ has 700 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Altimeter+'s written reviews are positive against 77% of Celestial Navigation's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Altimeter+ ships an update every 2 months, Celestial Navigation every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Altimeter+ | Celestial Navigation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (700 ratings) — better | 4.2 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 74.9% of reviews | 77.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 700 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #20 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.1 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sichtwerk AG | Dr. Harald Merkel |
Customer experience
Altimeter+
Celestial Navigation
Bugs and requests
Altimeter+
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashes when trying to calibrate or access settings
- Altimeter readings are inaccurate or inconsistent
- App not working on certain devices or iOS versions
Requested features
4 requests- Add option to display altitude in feet or meters
- Implement automatic calibration using GPS
- Add complication support for Apple Watch
- Provide above ground level (AGL) altitude reading
Celestial Navigation
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Altimeter+
No in-app purchases
Celestial Navigation
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Altimeter+ free?
Is Celestial Navigation free?
Which has better reviews, Altimeter+ or Celestial Navigation?
Do Altimeter+ or Celestial Navigation have ads?
Which is updated more often, Altimeter+ or Celestial Navigation?
Other comparisons
