# Polar Scope Align vs StellarMate

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polar Scope Align at 91% against StellarMate's 35%. Polar Scope Align also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.9) and ratings volume (173 vs 26). StellarMate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Polar Scope Align sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. StellarMate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Polar Scope Align holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align has 173 ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Polar Scope Align's written reviews are positive against 35% of StellarMate's.

Polar Scope Align ships an update every 6 weeks, StellarMate every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Polar Scope Align | StellarMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (173 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polar-scope-align/id970157965/reviews)** | [2.9 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarmate/id1252626058/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **173** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | **91.4% of reviews** | 34.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dimitrios Kechagias](https://appshunter.io/developer/970157964) | [Ikarus Astronomy Company For Scientific Instruments & Tools](https://appshunter.io/developer/1252626057) |

## What reviewers say

### Polar Scope Align

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polar-scope-align/id970157965)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip 1x | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tip 4x | $3.99 | one-time |
| Tip 10x | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Extensive reticle options for various telescope mounts
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 🆓 Powerful free version with no popup ads
- 🔴 Red night vision mode preserves dark adaptation
- 📍 Accurate GPS-based location detection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent accuracy with metal mounts/tripods
- 📱 Font size too small for comfortable reading
- 🎯 Center dot in reticle obscures precise alignment
- 📍 Limited effectiveness for southern hemisphere (Sigma Octantis is dim)
- ❓ Steep learning curve for beginners without proper guidance

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### StellarMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellarmate/id1252626058)

Control your astrophotography equipment remotely. Capture images, stream video, and perform precise alignment. Automatically back up your photos to the cloud with rich metadata for easy searching.

**Highlights:** Remote equipment control, Image capture and video streaming, Polar alignment assistant, Cloud image backup, Metadata search and sorting, Software updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Polar Scope Align free?

Polar Scope Align is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is StellarMate free?

StellarMate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Polar Scope Align or StellarMate?

Polar Scope Align is rated higher. Polar Scope Align averages 4.7 out of 5 from 173 ratings, while StellarMate averages 2.9 from 26 ratings.

### Do Polar Scope Align or StellarMate have ads?

Polar Scope Align shows ads; StellarMate does not.

### Which is updated more often, Polar Scope Align or StellarMate?

Polar Scope Align ships an update every 6 weeks, and StellarMate every 8 days. Most recently, Polar Scope Align was updated on October 24, 2026 and StellarMate on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*