THE Tether vs LightCompass
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
THE Tether
Instantly review and manage photos wirelessly from your camera on your mobile device. This app facilitates a fast on-set workflow for photographers, allowing for image rating, RAW file matching, and organized export.
- Wireless JPG review while shooting
- Support for Nikon, Sony, Canon cameras
- Session-based photo management
- Fullscreen review and rating
- RAW matching and download
- Export JPG and RAW files
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THE Tether brings wireless tethering and on-set photo review from compatible Nikon, Canon and Sony cameras to Mac, iPhone and iPad. โข JPG Only, JPG+RAW, RAW Only and Rated RAW modes โข Sessions, filmstrip, full-screen review and ratings โข Download matching RAW files for rated photos when available on the card โข Recover supported missed captures after a connection interruption โข Camera Import, Live View, remote shutter and settings on supported cameras โข Export selected JPG/RAW files and XMP rating metadata โข Connect up to four cameras, with one active Live View Mac adds Loupe, comparison and Second Display. Mobile controls and layouts differ. Connect the camera and app device to the same Wi-Fi router or smartphone hotspot. A 5GHz router is recommended. Features depend on protocol, firmware, authentication, camera capabilities, card contents and network conditions. Not every camera supports every feature. Premium offers monthly and yearly auto-renewable subscriptions. A seven-day free trial depends on the available offer and your eligibility. Check the local price, period and terms displayed by the App Store before purchase. Unless cancelled, a trial renews at the displayed price. Manage subscriptions in your App Store account and use Restore Purchases to recover existing access. THE Tether is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Nikon, Canon or Sony. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://dune-pixie-e84.notion.site/THE-tether-Privacy-Policy-3601d408edd98090b797f608872b583c
LightCompass
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Know where the light will be - before you get there. LightCompass shows you exactly where the sun, the moon, and the Milky Way will be for any place, any date, any time. Drop a pin, scrub the timeline, and plan the shot before you leave home. No manual to study: open the map and you are planning within minutes. PLAN ON THE MAP - Sun and moon paths drawn over the exact spot you are going to shoot, for any date and time - Sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, twilight, golden hour, and blue hour at a glance - Moon phase and illumination, plus Milky Way arch and Galactic Center visibility - A time slider to scrub through the day and watch the light move SEE IT IN AR - Point your iPhone at the scene and preview the sun and moon paths over the live camera image - Compass calibration flow for reliable on-location alignment TRUST THE TERRAIN (Terrain 3D pack) - Real elevation data builds the actual horizon around you - Sunrise and sunset corrected for the ridgeline, so you know when the light clears the mountain - not the flat horizon - A 3D terrain map with sunrise and sunset direction lines from where you stand FIND THE ALIGNMENT (Alignment pack) - Reverse search: choose where you want the sun or moon to appear, and LightCompass finds the dates and times it will be exactly there CATCH THE EVENTS (Celestial pack) - Solar and lunar eclipse details - Meteor shower calendar - Star trail planning CALCULATE THE SHOT - Depth of field, hyperfocal distance, and field of view calculators - Camera settings guidance for the scene you are planning - Meters or feet, your choice SAVE AND REMEMBER - Save locations and shooting plans - Add a plan to your calendar with a reminder, so you are on location before the light is SIMPLE, HONEST PRICING - The core app is a single one-time purchase - Three optional expansion packs - Alignment, Celestial, and Terrain 3D - are one-time purchases too, with a complete bundle available - No subscription. Ever. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No account, no sign-up, no analytics, no ads - Every astronomical calculation runs on your device - The only network requests fetch public map and elevation data, which is cached for offline use Whether you are chasing golden hour in the city, waiting for moonrise behind a peak, or lining up the Galactic Center over a lighthouse, LightCompass tells you where the light will be - so you can be there first.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: THE Tether at 3 against LightCompass's 1. On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. THE Tether sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and LightCompass sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | THE Tether | LightCompass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | โ |
| Update frequency | Weekly | โ |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | โ |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac โ better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 โ better | 18.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | haryun song | JI HOON LEE |
In-app purchases
THE Tether
- THE tether Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- THE tether Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
LightCompass
- Alignment Finder$1.99
- Celestial Pack$2.99
- Terrain 3D Pack$2.99
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- LightCompass Pro$4.99
- Complete Bundle$8.99









