Comparison

Cedar Aim vs AstroFinder

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

Head to head
About

Cedar Aim

This app connects to a specialized finder device to help you precisely locate celestial objects with your telescope. It uses star pattern recognition for real-time position detection and provides intuitive guidance for fast object finding. Enjoy seamless operation without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Real-time telescope position detection
  • Fast star pattern recognition
  • Intuitive directional guidance
  • Comprehensive celestial object database
  • Works with any telescope mount
  • Completely local operation
  • Seamless wireless connection
Features
Read full description

Cedar Aim™ is the companion mobile app for the Hopper™ electronic finder from Clear Skies Astro. Cedar Aim helps you point your telescope precisely towards any celestial object with ease. How It Works Cedar Aim connects to your Hopper device, which captures real-time images of the sky where your telescope is pointed. By matching star patterns, Cedar Aim instantly determines your telescope's exact position in the sky. Choose your target object and follow the guidance on your mobile device to move your telescope precisely to your selection. Key Features • Real-time telescope position detection through fast star pattern recognition • Intuitive directional guidance system for fast object location • Access to comprehensive celestial object database including Messier, NGC, IC, and planetary targets • Works with any telescope mount - no motorization required • Completely local operation - no internet connection needed during use • Seamless wireless connection to your Hopper device Perfect For • Amateur astronomers seeking efficient object location • Stargazing sessions with family and friends • Astronomy educators and club outreach events • Anyone who wants to spend more time observing and less time searching Requirements • Hopper™ electronic finder device (sold separately by Clear Skies Astro) • Telescope (any mount type - no motorization required) • iOS device with GPS and WiFi capability • Clear view of the night sky Cedar Aim eliminates the frustration of traditional star-hopping by providing precise, automated guidance to thousands of celestial objects. Whether you're hunting down faint galaxies or showing Saturn to curious children, Cedar Aim ensures you'll find your targets quickly and confidently. Experience the future of visual astronomy with Cedar Aim and Hopper— where technology meets the timeless wonder of stargazing.

About

AstroFinder

Transform your iPhone into a telescope finder without motors or alignment stars. It identifies star patterns in real-time, displaying your aim on a red-on-black chart with a guiding arrow. Find planets, deep sky objects, and more, all while running offline.

Highlights
  • Real-time telescope pointing
  • Plate-solving star identification
  • Night-vision friendly interface
  • Offline operation
  • Finds planets, deep sky objects, and stars
  • Alt-azimuth and equatorial modes
Read full description

**AstroFinder turns your iPhone into a plate-solving push-to finder for any telescope — no motors, no alignment stars, no setting circles.** Clamp your phone beside the scope. AstroFinder takes a short exposure of the real sky, identifies the star pattern the way a research plate-solver does, and repeats about once a second — so you always know exactly where you're pointed. A red-on-black star chart shows your aim live, and a simple arrow guides you onto whatever you want to see. **Find anything** • Planets, Sun and Moon — sorted by what's up right now • Deep sky by catalog number — Messier, NGC, IC, and more, on a keyboard-free keypad • Named stars and showpiece double stars • "Best this month" — well-placed showpieces for your location, tonight, nearest to where you're already aimed **Built for the eyepiece** • Fully night-vision friendly: red on black, dimmable below the phone's own minimum • Alt-azimuth mode for Dobsonians (no field rotation) or equatorial mode for tracking mounts • Tap any object on the chart for details, then push-to it • Optional constellation lines, labels, and progressive zoom as you close in • Works in portrait or landscape, at any mounting angle **How it works** AstroFinder mounts alongside your telescope and syncs to your eyepiece in seconds. From then on, the chart and all guidance are aligned to your scope's actual aim. Everything runs on-device — no internet needed under the stars. A one-month free trial gives you a full new-moon cycle to try it. Subscription then renews yearly; cancel anytime. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.santangeli.net/astrofinder/privacy Clear skies.

Screenshots

Cedar Aim4 screens
AstroFinder3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cedar Aim at none against AstroFinder's 1. Cedar Aim also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. AstroFinder sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.99 per year. Cedar Aim asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Cedar Aim against 5.0 for AstroFinder. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Cedar Aim versus AstroFinder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCedar AimAstroFinder
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClear Skies Astro LLCPeter Santangeli

Customer experience

Cedar Aim

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

AstroFinder

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cedar Aim

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

AstroFinder

Subscriptions1
  • AstroFinder Yearly1 Month trial$12.991 Year

Questions

Is Cedar Aim free?
Cedar Aim is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AstroFinder free?
AstroFinder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cedar Aim or AstroFinder?
Cedar Aim and AstroFinder are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Cedar Aim or AstroFinder have ads?
Neither Cedar Aim nor AstroFinder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cedar Aim or AstroFinder?
Cedar Aim ships an update every 9 days, and AstroFinder every 9 days. Most recently, Cedar Aim was updated on October 9, 2026 and AstroFinder on October 21, 2026.

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