# Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) vs Solar Eclipse Timer

The clearest difference is price: Solar Eclipse Timer at Free against Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)'s $9.99. Solar Eclipse Timer also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16). Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)'s advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Solar Eclipse Timer is free to download; Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) costs $9.99 up front. Solar Eclipse Timer sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 280 and 560 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)'s written reviews are positive against 68% of Solar Eclipse Timer's.

Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) ships an update every 3 months, Solar Eclipse Timer monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) | Solar Eclipse Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (280 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sun-surveyor-sun-and-moon/id525176875/reviews)** | [3.8 (560 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 280 | **560** |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 68.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#28** | — |
| Size | 66 MB | 231 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Adam Ratana](https://appshunter.io/developer/525176878) | [Foxwood Astronomy, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180239027) |

## What reviewers say

### Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sun-surveyor-sun-and-moon/id525176875)

**Currently charting:** #28 Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app helps photographers, filmmakers, and other professionals plan shots by visualizing sun and moon paths, predicting celestial events, and analyzing light conditions. It offers augmented reality views, interactive maps, and detailed ephemeris data for effective location scouting and planning.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality sun and moon path projections, Interactive map with Street View, Golden hour and blue hour prediction, Milky Way and star trail planning, Sun shadow length calculation, Offline location saving and loading

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Solar Eclipse Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865)

This app provides precise countdowns and reminders for solar eclipse phenomena, aiding both casual observers and photographers. It works offline and offers features like automatic partial-phase image timing and a dedicated photographer mode.

**Highlights:** Offline eclipse timing, Precise contact time calculation, Photographer mode, Automatic partial-phase image timing, Geolocation and manual coordinate entry, Audio and notification tests

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total - 7/2/19; Chile, Argenti | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total - 12/14/20; Chile, Argen | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total – 12/4/21; Antarctica | $1.99 | one-time |
| Hybrid – 4/20/23; Australia | $1.99 | one-time |
| Total – 4/8/24; USA, Mexico | $1.99 | one-time |
| Solar Eclipse Timer | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate timing and announcements
- 👍 Enhanced eclipse viewing experience
- 🎉 Worked flawlessly for 2017 and 2024 eclipses
- 💡 Helpful for photographers and non-photographers
- 🔊 Useful audio cues and prompts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔍 Confusing or cluttered user interface
- 🔋 Audio prompts not working in some cases
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location detection or totality information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing when loading timing data
- Notifications not working when camera is in use
- Incorrect contact times displayed for some locations

**Requested features**

- Customizable reminders or timers
- Automatic time zone and location updates
- Lunar eclipse support
- Improved onboarding and tutorial
- Countdown timer with graphical depiction


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) free?

Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Solar Eclipse Timer free?

Solar Eclipse Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) or Solar Eclipse Timer?

Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) is rated higher. Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) averages 4.8 out of 5 from 280 ratings, while Solar Eclipse Timer averages 3.8 from 560 ratings.

### Do Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) or Solar Eclipse Timer have ads?

Neither Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) nor Solar Eclipse Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) or Solar Eclipse Timer?

Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) ships an update every 3 months, and Solar Eclipse Timer monthly. Most recently, Sun Surveyor (Sun & Moon) was updated on September 24, 2026 and Solar Eclipse Timer on September 20, 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.*