ScopeTool vs Polar Scope Align
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.
Polar Scope Align
This app calculates the precise position of celestial poles in your telescope's polar scope reticle for accurate alignment. It supports a wide range of reticles and corrects for atmospheric refraction, offering precision even at lower latitudes. Features include night mode, moon phase, and astronomical databases.
- Polaris/Sigma Octantis position calculation
- Atmospheric refraction correction
- Reticle centering error correction
- Supports numerous reticle types
- Red-color night mode
- Moon phase and astronomical databases
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Polar Scope Align is a free, ad-supported polar alignment app for iPhone and iPad. It calculates the position of Polaris or σ Octantis in your polar scope reticle for your location, date and time, helping you get a quick and accurate polar alignment with an equatorial mount. POLAR SCOPE ALIGNMENT • Accurate Polaris and Sigma Octantis position for your date and location • Atmospheric refraction correction for better accuracy, especially at lower latitudes - readings may differ slightly from simpler apps that skip this correction, but will agree with precise sources (USNO, scientific software) • Automatic time and location • Manual location support • Reticle centering-error measurement and correction • Zero-position help for common Celestron / Sky-Watcher / Orion style reticles • Full red night-mode interface SUPPORTED RETICLES Polar Scope Align supports 35+ polar scope and finder reticle types, including: iOptron, Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, Takahashi (EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z), Sky-Watcher / Orion (including EQ6/AZ-EQ and Star Adventurer), Celestron, Meade, EXOS2, Bresser, Vixen (Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX, Polarie), Astrotrac, Losmandy, Kenko, Avalon, Konus, Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, and several older polar finders (Tuthill, Explore Scientific, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical). OBSERVING TOOLS The free version also includes: • Moon phase • Messier, Caldwell and bright-star database • DSS image downloads for included database objects • Saved, editable and printable DSO lists • 8 astronomy calculators for observing and imaging • Sample Pro tools available from Settings, including aurora forecast • iOptron WiFi Connect - report mount status, set mount Time/Date/Location LOOKING FOR ALIGNMENT WITHOUT A POLAR SCOPE? Polar Scope Align Pro adds the advanced tools many users search for: • Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment • Camera Azimuth Calibration using the Sun, Moon, planets or bright stars • Laser / Hop Align for night alignment when Polaris is blocked • Push To / manual GoTo for non-GoTo telescopes • Live sky maps for Daytime Alignment, Laser / Hop Align, Push To and Hop To • Full 22,000+ object DSO database • Xasteria astro weather, aurora, satellite passes and widgets • 30+ calculators • Bubble level, compass and iOptron WiFi mount control • Apple Watch companion app • No ads If you only need accurate polar-scope alignment, this free version is a capable tool. If you want alignment without a polar scope, observing planning, weather and field tools, Pro is the complete version.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Polar Scope Align at 4.7 against ScopeTool's 3.8. Polar Scope Align also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 9 months). ScopeTool's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Polar Scope Align sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ScopeTool asks for nothing beyond the download.
Polar Scope Align holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align has 173 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of ScopeTool's written reviews are positive against 91% of Polar Scope Align's.
ScopeTool ships an update every 9 months, Polar Scope Align every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | ScopeTool | Polar Scope Align |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (4 ratings) | 4.7 (173 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 91.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 173 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | H Crossley | Dimitrios Kechagias |
Customer experience
ScopeTool
Polar Scope Align
Bugs and requests
ScopeTool
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Polar Scope Align
Reported bugs
6 issues- Date and time dial do not match correctly
- GMT and LST times appear to be switched
- App crashes or fails to initialize for some users
- Alignment accuracy varies inconsistently between sessions
- Location detection issues with cell tower vs GPS
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- Reticle display not rendering properly in some cases
Requested features
7 requests- Online video tutorials demonstrating all features
- Remove or reduce center dot size in reticle
- Larger, bolder font options for better readability
- Brighter star options for southern hemisphere alignment
- Smaller ad button or ad customization
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- Better beginner onboarding and instructions
- More robust alternative alignment methods for southern hemisphere
In-app purchases
ScopeTool
No in-app purchases
Polar Scope Align
- Tip 1x$0.99
- Tip 4x$3.99
- Tip 10x$9.99









