# PhotoPills vs Solar Eclipse Timer

The clearest difference is price: Solar Eclipse Timer at Free against PhotoPills's $10.99. Solar Eclipse Timer also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). PhotoPills's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Solar Eclipse Timer is free to download; PhotoPills costs $10.99 up front. Solar Eclipse Timer sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. PhotoPills asks for nothing beyond the download.

PhotoPills holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 560 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of PhotoPills's written reviews are positive against 68% of Solar Eclipse Timer's.

PhotoPills ships an update every 2 months, Solar Eclipse Timer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PhotoPills | Solar Eclipse Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805/reviews)** | [3.8 (560 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solar-eclipse-timer/id1203105865/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 560 |
| Positive reviews | **84.8% of reviews** | 68.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | — |
| Size | 41 MB | 231 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PhotoPills S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/596026808) | [Foxwood Astronomy, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180239027) |

## What reviewers say

### PhotoPills

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photopills/id596026805)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Paid · Photo & Video, #144 Top Paid (US App Store)

Plan and capture stunning photos of the sun, moon, and Milky Way. This app helps you visualize celestial events and landscape compositions with advanced planning tools and augmented reality.

**Highlights:** 2D Map-Centric Planner (Sun, Moon, Milky Way), 3D Augmented Reality Views, Celestial Event Finder, Photo Plans Manager, Location Scouting Tool, Calculators (Long Exposure, Timelapse, etc.)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Comprehensive planning tools
- 🚀 Powerful features for astrophotography
- 💡 Excellent tutorials and support
- 🌟 Indispensable for photographers
- ⭐ Incredible value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Steep learning curve
- 🤯 Overwhelming complexity
- 🤖 Confusing user interface
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when using depth of field calculator
- Location settings not persisting between sessions
- Milky Way position not aligning correctly

**Requested features**

- User guide in multiple languages
- Improved integration with other apps
- More customization options
- Weather forecast integration
- Apple Watch companion app


### 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 PhotoPills free?

PhotoPills costs $10.99, 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, PhotoPills or Solar Eclipse Timer?

PhotoPills is rated higher. PhotoPills averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Solar Eclipse Timer averages 3.8 from 560 ratings.

### Do PhotoPills or Solar Eclipse Timer have ads?

Neither PhotoPills nor Solar Eclipse Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PhotoPills or Solar Eclipse Timer?

PhotoPills ships an update every 2 months, and Solar Eclipse Timer monthly. Most recently, PhotoPills was updated on October 2, 2026 and Solar Eclipse Timer on September 29, 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.*