Comparison

Polar Scope Align vs Planetary Compass

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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.

About

Planetary Compass

Discover the location of planets in the night sky. This app helps you identify celestial bodies like Mars and Jupiter, indicating their position, altitude, and magnitude. It also informs you if a planet is visible without optical aid.

Highlights
  • Indicates Azimuth, Altitude, and Magnitude
  • Helps locate planets by rotating phone
  • Indicates naked-eye visibility
  • Identifies planets like Mars and Jupiter
Read full description

Find out where the planets are in the sky with this simple app! What is that red spot in the sky? Is it Mars? Where is Jupiter? Is Saturn visible tonight? Answer these questions with Planetary Compass. Features: - It indicates the Azimuth, Altitude, and Magnitude of each planet. - It helps you find the planet in the sky while rotating your phone. - Tells you whether a planet is visible to the naked eye. ---------------------------------------- Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com Icons by Icons8

Screenshots

Polar Scope Align4 screens
Planetary Compass4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Polar Scope Align at 4.7 against Planetary Compass's 1.8. Polar Scope Align also leads on ratings volume (171 vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Planetary Compass's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). On price, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Polar Scope Align holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align has 171 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of Polar Scope Align's written reviews are positive against 100% of Planetary Compass's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Polar Scope Align ships an update every 2 months, Planetary Compass every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Polar Scope Align versus Planetary Compass: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolar Scope AlignPlanetary Compass
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (171 ratings) — better1.8 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews91.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings171 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDimitrios KechagiasGaston Sobrevilla

Customer experience

Polar Scope Align

All ratings171 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral0.6%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews170 reviews
Positive91.2%
Neutral1.8%
Negative7.1%

Planetary Compass

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and 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
Show 1 more
  • 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
Show 2 more
  • Better beginner onboarding and instructions
  • More robust alternative alignment methods for southern hemisphere

Planetary Compass

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Polar Scope Align

One-time3
  • Tip 1x$0.99
  • Tip 4x$3.99
  • Tip 10x$9.99
None

Planetary Compass

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Polar Scope Align free?
Polar Scope Align is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Planetary Compass free?
Planetary Compass is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Polar Scope Align or Planetary Compass?
Polar Scope Align is rated higher. Polar Scope Align averages 4.7 out of 5 from 171 ratings, while Planetary Compass averages 1.8 from 4 ratings.
Do Polar Scope Align or Planetary Compass have ads?
Both Polar Scope Align and Planetary Compass show ads.
Which is updated more often, Polar Scope Align or Planetary Compass?
Polar Scope Align ships an update every 2 months, and Planetary Compass every 6 days. Most recently, Polar Scope Align was updated on September 8, 2026 and Planetary Compass on September 15, 2026.

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