Comparison

Range Finder Tool vs Celestial Nav

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Range Finder Tool

This app transforms your device into a versatile measurement tool. It utilizes augmented reality, a compass, and an inclinometer to measure distances, heights, and angles to objects. You can also map distances, track waypoints, and view celestial data.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality measurement
  • Distance and height calculation
  • Multi-point map distance
  • Radius and angle measurement
  • Waypoint tracking
  • Compass with celestial data
  • 3D AR camera view
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a practical field toolkit for camera measurement, maps, waypoints, compass work, and astronomical planning. RangeFinder brings the instruments you need into one focused app. Estimate a distance, inspect an angle, save a waypoint, measure a shape on the map, or plan around sunlight without breaking your workflow. CAMERA INSTRUMENTS • Estimate distance or height from an object of known size. • Measure distance with LiDAR on compatible devices. • Read heading, inclination, and roll, then capture an A–B angle. • Use Angle Survey with crisp, calibrated vector reticles. • Save camera, reticle, measurement, or full-screen compositions. MAPS THAT GO WITH YOU • Work with raster maps and detailed OSM vector maps up to zoom level 19. • Download supported map areas for use away from a connection. • Start with 512 MB of offline-map storage; save your first offline map to receive another 512 MB. • Search and inspect coordinates in Decimal Degrees, DMS, UTM, MGRS, Plus Codes, and GeoHash. WAYPOINTS WITH CONTEXT • Create waypoints on the map or from a photo’s GPS metadata. • Choose from 175 icons so every place is easy to recognize. • Add notes, photos, and voice messages. • Track selected waypoints on the map, compass, and live camera with their name and distance. MEASURE AND PLAN • Draw distances, polylines, angles, rectangles, polygons, areas, and circles directly on the map. • Use magnetic or true north, waypoint bearings, map rotation, and compass calibration. • Plan with sunrise, sunset, civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight, golden and blue hours, Moon phase, and planet positions—calculated on device. SAVE YOUR FIELDWORK Keep range observations, captures, waypoints, attachments, and map measurements organized for later. A safe migration assistant can bring compatible waypoints, media, and settings forward from the previous app. Camera frames and photo-location analysis are processed on your device. Availability and quality depend on device sensors, permissions, lighting, surface conditions, and location accuracy. Measurements are estimates and are not intended for safety-critical surveying or navigation.

About

Celestial Nav

This app provides tools for celestial navigation, offering computations for celestial bodies and sight reductions. It includes an offline perpetual almanac and allows for quick capture of observation data for accurate course adjustments.

Highlights
  • Celestial navigational computations
  • Offline perpetual almanac
  • Quick celestial observation data capture
  • High accuracy sight reductions
  • Sight planning and reduction tools
  • Celestial fix computations
Features
Read full description

We believe celestial navigation is an amazing skill and develop Celestial Nav to offer a simple, yet powerful and all encompassing app for our users. Celestial Nav is an easy to use, all-in-one tool which offers: • Celestial navigational computations for your device • Simple toolbar menu for quick access • Internally stored perpetual Almanac • Offline ready and functional without the need for other external tools • Quick and easy capture celestial observation data • High accuracy sight reductions • Star reference tables SIGHT PLANNING • Local Hour Angle (LHA) for Aries • Star tables sorted by name, magnitude, declination, and SHA • Sunrise, sunset, twilight, and location reference • Moon phase reference SIGHT REDUCTION • High accuracy sight reduction algorithm • Perpetual Almanac offering accurate data for years 1600 - 3000 • Almanac data for Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn • Detailed Almanac data for 58 navigational stars • Assumed Position (AP) for any user defined position • Line of Position (LOP) intercept data for accurate course and speed adjustments • Computational variables displayed for accuracy and validation CELESTIAL FIX • Computations by USNO algorithm in the Nautical Almanac • Save all your LOP in an easy reference table BASIC VERSION Free daytime celestial navigation tools using the sun: • Unlimited sextant sight reduction calculations • Sight reduction to a line of position using the sun • Perpetual almanac for the sun • Advanced sight corrections for index error, eye height, temperature, and pressure • Support for upper and lower limb reference • Star Table with navigational references • Detailed Sun references • Limited Moon references PRO FEATURES (IN-APP PURCHASE) Advanced Day & Night Celestial Navigation includes all BASIC features plus: • Almanac data for 65 navigational bodies for years 1600 through 3000 • Map display for saved LOPs • View intercepts with course and speed corrections • Metric and imperial unit support with automatic conversions • Support for coordinate entries in different formats (H° M’ S” or Decimals) • Save all your LOP calculations for future reference • Save user preferences and settings • Unrestricted moon references • Almanac and algorithmic models for 65 navigational bodies: • Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn • 58 navigational stars Supported stars: Acamar, Achernar, Acrux, Adhara, Aldebaran, Alioth, Alkaid, Alnair, Alnilam, Alphard, Alphecca, Alpheratz, Altair, Ankaa, Antares, Arcturus, Atria, Avior, Bellatrix, Betelgeuse, Canopus, Capella, Deneb, Denebola, Diphda, Dubhe, Elnath, Eltanin, Enif, Fomalhaut, Gacrux, Gienah, Hadar, Hamal, Kaus Australis, Kochab, Markab, Menkar, Menkent, Miaplacidus, Mirfak, Nunki, Peacock, Polaris, Pollux, Procyon, Rasalhague, Regulus, Rigel, Rigil Kent., Sabik, Schedar, Shaula, Sirius, Spica, Suhail, Vega, Zubengenubi REFERENCES Sight reductions and celestial calculations use various internationally accepted references for the most accurate results: • Jean Meeus - Astronomical Algorithms • US Naval Observatory (USNO) Almanac and Algorithms • Hipparcos New Astrometric Catalog, Published 2007 • ELP2000-85 SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Celestial Nav is free to download and the basic features free to use. A paid upgrade to the PRO version provides access to premium features and additional tools. We may offer trial subscriptions that give limited time access to all PRO features and premium content for the duration of the trial period. Trial subscriptions automatically expire and the app will revert back to the Basic version thereafter. No data is lost but access and use of premium features will no longer be available.

Screenshots

Range Finder Tool4 screens
Celestial Nav4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Celestial Nav at Free against Range Finder Tool's $2.99. Celestial Nav also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months). Range Finder Tool's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ratings volume (120 vs 10). On ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Celestial Nav is free to download; Range Finder Tool costs $2.99 up front. Celestial Nav sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Range Finder Tool asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Celestial Nav holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Range Finder Tool has 120 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of Range Finder Tool's written reviews are positive against 58% of Celestial Nav's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Range Finder Tool ships an update every 10 months, Celestial Nav every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Range Finder Tool versus Celestial Nav: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRange Finder ToolCelestial Nav
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating2.9 (120 ratings)4.3 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.4% of reviews58.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings120 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#23 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNatalia GavrylovaSkytip LLC

Customer experience

Range Finder Tool

All ratings120 ratings
Positive41.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative41.7%
Written reviews88 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral13.6%
Negative50.0%

Celestial Nav

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

Range Finder Tool

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • App keeps quitting
  • App won't open
  • App crashes at start
  • App does not launch
  • App doesn't open
Show 10 more
  • App crashes every time
  • Range finder doesn't work
  • Range does not update
  • App crashes when measuring
  • App crashes when trying to shoot object
  • App crashes on iPhone 6
  • App crashes on iPhone 8plus
  • App crashes on IPH7+
  • App crashes when hitting orange bullet button
  • App crashes when touching pointer

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add tutorial or manual
  • Transfer map to app
  • Transfer screenshot to app
  • Add angle measurement tool
  • Add user guide
Show 6 more
  • Add help button
  • Add more explanation
  • Add UTM coordinate system
  • Add map datum options
  • Add a YouTube demo video
  • Add instructions

Celestial Nav

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Range Finder Tool

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Celestial Nav

Subscriptions3
  • PRO Version$1.991 Month
  • PRO Version$7.996 Months
  • PRO Version$9.991 Year
One-time3
  • 7 Day Trial License$0.99
  • 30 Day Trial License$2.99
  • PRO Version Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Range Finder Tool free?
Range Finder Tool costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Celestial Nav free?
Celestial Nav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Range Finder Tool or Celestial Nav?
Celestial Nav is rated higher. Range Finder Tool averages 2.9 out of 5 from 120 ratings, while Celestial Nav averages 4.3 from 10 ratings.
Do Range Finder Tool or Celestial Nav have ads?
Neither Range Finder Tool nor Celestial Nav shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Range Finder Tool or Celestial Nav?
Range Finder Tool ships an update every 10 months, and Celestial Nav every 3 weeks. Most recently, Range Finder Tool was updated on September 24, 2026 and Celestial Nav on September 13, 2026.

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