Light Box vs Polar Scope Align Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Light Box
Transform your iPad into a versatile film illuminator viewer. Adjust brightness, lock rotation, and add grids or lines for precise viewing. A cost-effective alternative to dedicated lightboxes.
- Film negative/positive viewer
- Adjustable brightness
- Rotation lock
- Grid and line overlays
- iPad optimized
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Turn your iPad into negative / positive film illuminator viewer. Why pay 100 dollars for LightBox when you can turn your iPad into one with selectable styles. Desensitized white screen has a small settings button at the top right, where you can lock rotation, adjust brightness, or add a grid or lines. Simple and Smart. *Important notice: We shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of functions or the content of this application. By using this application you are deemed to agree to this condition.
Polar Scope Align Pro
This app assists astronomers with precise polar alignment for telescopes, offering tools for various reticles and low-latitude accuracy. It also includes a comprehensive suite of astro tools, from object databases to calculators and weather reports.
- Accurate polar alignment calculation
- Support for numerous polar scope reticles
- Daytime/no polarscope alignment tool
- Deep Space Object database
- Astrophotography calculators
- World astro-weather report
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Polar Scope Align Pro is a complete toolkit for amateur astronomers: accurate polar alignment, deep-sky observing, astro weather, push-to/manual GoTo, iOptron mount WiFi control, widgets and more. All features and updates are free forever. Optional in-app purchases are just tips to support development. POLAR ALIGNMENT • Calculates Polaris or σ Octantis position for 30+ reticle types: iOptron, Astro-Physics, Takahashi, Skywatcher, Vixen, Celestron, Orion, Astrotrac and others* • Atmospheric refraction correction for accuracy at any latitude • Works with or without a polar scope ALIGNMENT WITHOUT A POLAR SCOPE • Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment: works day and night with just your phone's gyro • Camera Azimuth Calibration: use sun/moon/stars to calibrate gyro and align accurately without a compass, immune to magnetic interference • Laser / Hop Align: nighttime alignment for maximum accuracy with a laser or a scope with no view of Polaris • Live sky map guides you to the celestial pole in real time • Sun Finder helps you point your filtered telescope/telephoto to the Sun PUSH TO (MANUAL GOTO) • Attach your phone to any scope and convert it to manual/push GoTo • Select from a large database and use direct push or more accurate hop-to mode DEEP SKY OBJECT DATABASE • 22,000+ objects with altitude graphs, rise/set times and more info • Save and manage curated observing lists • Filter, search, sort and push to any target XASTERIA ASTRO WEATHER • Hourly astronomy forecasts from 7Timer, OpenWeather, MET Norway and Apple Weather, plus a configurable Multi-source forecast • Animated satellite Cloud Map with recent EUMETSAT and NASA infrared imagery • Aurora forecasts • ISS and bright satellite passes with an All Sky night chart, individual sky charts, live map tracking, and Tiangong and Hubble views • Solar eclipse tool with past and future eclipses, live mode with audio cues • Experimental eclipse camera for automated photoshoots of partial phase, diamond ring, Baily's beads, totality bracketing • Interactive light pollution map using World Atlas and recent VIIRS data CALCULATORS & TOOLS • 30+ calculators for observing and astrophotography • Moon phase calendar with altitude graphs • Solar eclipse calculator and simulator • Bubble level & Compass IOPTRON WIFI MOUNT CONTROL • Connect to WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts (HAE, HAZ, HEM, CEM, GEM and more) • Automatic date/time/location setup • Switch between Equatorial and Alt-Az on mounts that support both • Move & Sync: directional control with a live sky map • Point GoTo: aim your phone at a patch of sky and send the mount there • Current Point Query: find out what the mount is pointing at • GoTo any object from the DSO Database NIGHT-FRIENDLY • Red, green or white night mode with dimmer WIDGETS • Configurable Tonight and Multi astronomy weather forecasts • Upcoming bright satellite passes • Aurora probability, activity forecast and NOAA aurora map * Full list of supported reticles: Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, iOptron, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser / MSM, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen PF-L/Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX/Polarie Polar Axis Scopes, a Konus and several Polar Finders: Tuthill, Explore Scientific 8x50, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical. PoleMaster help view for South Hemisphere users.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polar Scope Align Pro at 97% against Light Box's 48%. Polar Scope Align Pro also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (305 vs 11). Light Box's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and price ($0.99 vs $3.99). On update cadence and ads 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
Light Box costs $0.99 and Polar Scope Align Pro $3.99 up front. Polar Scope Align Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Light Box asks for nothing beyond the download.
Polar Scope Align Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align Pro has 305 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Light Box's written reviews are positive against 97% of Polar Scope Align Pro's.
Light Box ships an update every 3 months, Polar Scope Align Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Light Box | Polar Scope Align Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (11 ratings) | 4.9 (305 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 47.6% of reviews | 97.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 11 | 305 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #72 — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Systemiko Inc. | Dimitrios Kechagias |
Customer experience
Light Box
Polar Scope Align Pro
Bugs and requests
Light Box
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Polar Scope Align Pro
Reported bugs
2 issues- Weather Updates Not Working
- Compass Deflected by Mount
Requested features
2 requests- Add Observation Recording Feature
- Add Push To Option for DSO Objects
In-app purchases
Light Box
No in-app purchases
Polar Scope Align Pro
- Tip 1x$0.99
- Tip 4x$3.99
- Tip 10x$9.99
Questions
Is Light Box free?
Is Polar Scope Align Pro free?
Which has better reviews, Light Box or Polar Scope Align Pro?
Do Light Box or Polar Scope Align Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, Light Box or Polar Scope Align Pro?
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