Comparison

Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 vs Hand Load

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Solar Eclipse Guide 2024

Prepare for the 2024 total solar eclipse with this essential astronomical guide. Discover optimal viewing locations, understand the celestial mechanics, and access interactive simulations for an unforgettable experience. Learn everything you need to know to safely observe this rare event.

Highlights
  • Interactive eclipse simulations
  • Solar eclipse path visualization
  • Best visibility mapping
  • Location-based preview
  • Eclipse timetable
  • Sky map with celestial bodies
  • Explanations and facts about eclipses
Features
Read full description

Developed in collaboration with THAMES & KOSMOS: Don’t miss out on viewing the total solar eclipse happening on April 8, 2024 in North America. This spectacular astronomical event will be the second total solar eclipse this century in the US – and the last one for the next 20 years! Solar Eclipse Guide is the essential astronomical companion for this eclipse. It gives you all the information you need to prepare: find the right place to watch, understand what is happening in the sky above you, and marvel at this unforgettable phenomenon. This app is the perfect tool for anyone who wants to make the most out of this rare celestial event. The app is totally free and does not display any advertising. How does a solar eclipse occur? What is the path of the moon's shadow? Where is the best place to observe the solar eclipse and what do you need to know in order to observe it? The app answers these questions and many more. Vividly experience this spectacular celestial event with an interactive simulation. Find out where you can best observe a solar eclipse on Earth. Or even experience an eclipse as if viewed from the sun. Find out everything you need to know about the sun and the formation of a solar eclipse. Solar Eclipse Guide also gives you helpful tips on observing solar eclipses. The most important features at a glance: • Four different, interactive eclipse simulations: View from current location, view from best location, view from Earth's orbit, view from the sun • Physical and stylized solar eclipse map with simulation of the movement of the umbra over the earth’s surface • Visualization of the best visibility (partial and total occultation) • Direct preview of the solar eclipse for any location in North America • Eclipse timetable allows you to jump directly to the most important times for your observation location: Beginning/end of the eclipse, beginning/end of totality and greatest eclipse • Sky map with stars and planets that are visible during totality • All about eclipses: Explanations and facts, illustrated with pictures and videos • Location selection via map, location search or GPS or selection of the "best position" for observation • Huge database of 6500 cities worldwide, including 2500 cities in the United States • All data for live observation: peak time, coordinates, and much more • In four languages: English, Spanish, French, German Solar Eclipse Guide is part of the Redshift family: Our astronomy apps let you discover the sky and space all year long. Explore the planets, travel to space, expand your knowledge of astronomy, and never miss an important celestial event again with our Redshift apps. ***** Updates and news on www.redshiftsky.de, Facebook @redshiftplanetariumsoftware, or Instagram @redshiftskypro *****

About

Hand Load

This app digitally logs firearm reloading recipes, component inventory, and range session data. It automatically calculates statistics like average velocity and group size, offering offline functionality and secure data storage. The app is designed for shooters to meticulously track their handloading process and performance.

Highlights
  • Record detailed reloading recipes
  • Track component inventory
  • Log range session data
  • Automatic statistical calculations
  • Offline functionality
  • Secure, private data storage
  • Imperial and metric unit support
Features
Read full description

Every handloader has that notebook. Powder residue on the cover, a workup scrawled across two pages, chrono numbers you meant to move to a spreadsheet three range trips ago. Hand Load retires it: a bench-ready journal that keeps every recipe, every component, and every shot in one place you can actually search. Built for shooters who already know their way around a press — precision rifle competitors working through a ladder, pistol shooters chasing a node, hunters tuning a load before opening day. No ads, no accounts, and nobody watching over your shoulder. RECIPES Record every variable that matters, the way you would on a good data sheet: • Bullet, powder, primer, brass, charge weight, and COAL • Powder measure setting, so a proven throw is easy to return to • Die settings, including shoulder bump, neck bushing, and CBTO • Case preparation: trim-to length, amount trimmed, and times fired at trimming COMPONENT INVENTORY • Track powders, primers, bullets, and brass on hand • Know what's on the shelf before you plan the next session at the press EQUIPMENT • Firearms, with barrel length and twist rate • Presses and dies, tied to the recipes that use them RANGE SESSIONS • Shot-by-shot velocity for every string • Group size and weather conditions • A five-step impression rating per string, so your notes still mean something six months later STATISTICS • Average velocity, SD, ES, and MOA computed automatically for every string • Results aggregated per recipe — see how a load performs over its whole history, not just its best day • No more averaging strings by hand on the tailgate BUILT FOR THE BENCH • Rapid entry keypad mode for logging fast between strings • Voice dictation for hands-free velocity entry — read the chronograph, say the number, keep shooting • Imperial and metric units, one toggle • Fully offline — no cell signal required at the range YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS • No accounts, no sign-up screen, no ads, no analytics, no third-party SDKs • Optional iCloud sync stores your journal in your private database; the developer never sees your data • Edit your saved entries, clear optional values, and delete records in the app • Your load book is nobody's business but yours A JOURNAL, NOT A LOAD MANUAL Hand Load is a record-keeping tool. It does not contain load data and will never suggest or recommend a charge weight or any other load parameter. Always verify every load against current published data from your powder and bullet manufacturers before loading or firing, and follow established handloading practices. ONE PURCHASE, NO SUBSCRIPTION Start free. Unlock the full app with Hand Load Unlimited, a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees. Tools you buy once and own, like everything else on your bench. Requires iOS 17 or later. Works on iPhone and iPad.

Screenshots

Solar Eclipse Guide 20244 screens
Hand Load4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 at none against Hand Load's 1. Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 2). Hand Load's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hand Load sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hand Load holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 has 1.6K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Solar Eclipse Guide 2024's written reviews are positive against 100% of Hand Load's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 ships an update every 4 days, Hand Load every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 versus Hand Load: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSolar Eclipse Guide 2024Hand Load
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (1.6K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.6K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size391 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUSMAdaptaFit

Customer experience

Solar Eclipse Guide 2024

All ratings1,623 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.3%

Hand Load

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Solar Eclipse Guide 2024

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Incorrect location data
  • Inaccurate totality information

Requested features

2 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • More detailed eclipse information

Hand Load

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Solar Eclipse Guide 2024

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Hand Load

One-time1
  • Unlock Unlimited Access$7.99

Questions

Is Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 free?
Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hand Load free?
Hand Load is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 or Hand Load?
Hand Load is rated higher. Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Hand Load averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 or Hand Load have ads?
Neither Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 nor Hand Load shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 or Hand Load?
Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 ships an update every 4 days, and Hand Load every 2 months. Most recently, Solar Eclipse Guide 2024 was updated on October 9, 2026 and Hand Load on October 2, 2026.

Other comparisons