StarLoc vs StarTrace
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
StarTrace
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星迹 — 一款让星空触手可及的 AR 天文科普应用。 举起手机,对准夜空,星迹便会通过增强现实技术,把真实天空与星图叠加在一起,实时为你标注头顶的恒星、行星、星座与月亮。无需任何天文基础,也无需望远镜,你就能读懂头顶的这片宇宙。 【核心功能】 · AR 实景观星 打开相机取景,星迹将结合你的地理位置、手机朝向与当前时间,把可见的恒星、行星与星座精准叠加在真实天空画面上。随着你转身、抬手、移动手机,星空也随之流转,天体始终固定在它真正所在的方位,让你所见即所得。 · 互动星图 不必走到户外,也能随时浏览全天星空。可自由旋转、缩放视野,切换观测时间与地点,预演不同时刻、不同城市的星空布局。无论白天黑夜、阴晴圆缺,星图永远为你展开。 · 天文百科 内置涵盖恒星、行星、星座、深空天体与中国古代星宿的图鉴式知识库。每颗天体都附有科普资料,从亮度、距离到神话传说,一应俱全,是随身的天文小课堂。 · 中国星宿 除西方 88 星座外,星迹还收录了中国古代三垣二十八宿体系,让你在观星的同时,重拾东方千年星空文化的浪漫。 · 北斗指引 不认识北极星?星迹会用北斗七星为你指明方向,帮你轻松找到夜空中那颗亘古不动的方位标。 · 收藏与探索 遇到心仪的天体,一键加入收藏,随时回顾。配合分类筛选与搜索,海量星表也能快速定位。 【技术亮点】 · 实时传感器融合 融合加速度计、磁力计与陀螺仪数据,精准追踪手机朝向,确保天体标注与真实位置严丝合缝。 · 天文坐标精算 基于赤道坐标系与地平坐标系的实时转换,并完成球面到屏幕的投影,呈现专业级的天体定位精度。 · 本地星图数据库 内置约 300 颗亮星与全天 88 星座数据,无需联网即可运行,既省流量又护隐私。 · 完全离线,隐私优先 所有计算与数据均在本地完成,不收集、不上传任何个人信息,给你一片纯净、安心的星空。 【适用人群】 无论你是久观星空的天文爱好者,还是对头顶星光满怀好奇的初学者;无论你是想带孩子认识北斗的父母,还是希望重温东方星宿文化的传统爱好者——星迹都能成为你口袋里的天文台。 以宇宙为幕,以星辰为引。星迹,陪你点亮每一片夜空。
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: StarTrace at every 4 weeks against StarLoc's every 2 months. StarTrace also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
StarLoc ships an update every 2 months, StarTrace every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | StarLoc | StarTrace |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daniel Schaich | 明珍 曾 |
In-app purchases
StarLoc
No in-app purchases
StarTrace
No in-app purchases









