QUARCS vs StarLoc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
QUARCS
This open-source software kit enables remote astrophotography capture via Wi-Fi and computer. It offers comprehensive control over telescope mounts, cameras, autoguiding, and electric focusers, integrating with Stellarium for sky mapping.
- Remote capture via Wi-Fi
- Computer remote capture via LAN
- Mount control
- Camera control
- Autoguiding
- Electric focuser control
- Stellarium skymap integration
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Q.U.A.R.C.S (QHYCCD Universal Astrophotographic Remote Capture System) is an open-source software kit that supports the full function of mobile remote capture via WIFI and computer remote capture via LAN. It includes the mount control, camera control, autoguiding, electric focuser control, and Stellarium skymap function.
StarLoc
This app provides precise GPS coordinates, altitude, and time data in a night-friendly interface for astronomers. It offers essential information for telescope alignment and observation, with a focus on preserving night vision.
- Night-friendly dark theme
- Accurate latitude and longitude (DMS)
- Decimal coordinate support
- Real-time GPS updates
- Local, UTC, and offset time
- Elevation in meters and feet
- Horizontal and vertical accuracy
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StarLoc is a clean, distraction-free GPS tool designed specifically for stargazing. Get accurate latitude, longitude, altitude, and time in formats ready for telescope alignment all in a night-friendly interface. Built for the Night Sky • Unlike standard GPS apps, StarLoc uses a dark theme with red and green text to help preserve your night vision during astronomy sessions. Accurate Location Data • Latitude & Longitude (DMS format) • Decimal coordinates for quick entry • Real-time GPS updates • High-accuracy positioning data Time & Alignment Ready • Local time (12-hour & 24-hour) • UTC time and offset • Date display for precise telescope setup Altitude & Accuracy • Elevation in meters and feet • Horizontal and vertical accuracy readings Simple, focused and reliable. StarLoc provides the essential data you need to align your telescope and start observing. Perfect for backyard astronomers and dark-sky explorers alike.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: StarLoc at 100% against QUARCS's 0%. StarLoc also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). QUARCS's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
StarLoc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of QUARCS's written reviews are positive against 100% of StarLoc's.
QUARCS ships an update every 6 months, StarLoc every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | QUARCS | StarLoc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Light Speed Vision(Beijing) Co., Ltd | Daniel Schaich |
Customer experience
QUARCS
StarLoc
In-app purchases
QUARCS
No in-app purchases
StarLoc
No in-app purchases
