ScopeTool vs QUARCS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ScopeTool
This app assists with telescope setup and alignment, providing tools like a compass, level, and calculators for celestial objects. It allows manual or GPS-based location input and offers customizable tool visibility for use in low light.
- Compass and level
- Polaris hour angle calculator
- Jupiter and Saturn moon positions
- Red/white flashlight with timer
- Manual or GPS location input
- Customizable tool visibility
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ScopeTool by Krydo helps as you set up, align and use your telescope for a good night's viewing. It includes the tools • Compass & level • Polaris hour angle and transit calculator • Positions for the main satellite moons of Jupiter and Saturn* • Red or white flashlight, with screen lock and timer functions ScopeTool can find your location by either using your device's location services (eg GPS), or you can enter your coordinates manually. The Settings tool allows you to tailor the app to your needs; turn off tools you don't use so it's easy to select the ones you want in the dark. More tools are coming; visit http://scopetool.krydo.com or tweet us on @KrydoDev to keep up with their progress, and let us know what would be useful to you! * For Jupiter, the four Galilean moons are shown. For Saturn, satellites I-VIII are included. A limiting magnitude control allows you to hide objects that are too faint to be seen, so you can match the diagram to what you can see. The location of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and attitude of Saturn's rings are also included.
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.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ScopeTool at 50% against QUARCS's 0%. ScopeTool also leads on rating (3.8 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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.
ScopeTool holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of ScopeTool's written reviews are positive against 0% of QUARCS's.
ScopeTool ships an update every 9 months, QUARCS every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ScopeTool | QUARCS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (4 ratings) — better | 3.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 6 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | H Crossley | Light Speed Vision(Beijing) Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
ScopeTool
QUARCS
In-app purchases
ScopeTool
No in-app purchases
QUARCS
No in-app purchases
