Polar Scope Align Pro vs SynScan Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Polar Scope Align Pro
This app assists astronomers with precise polar alignment for telescopes, offering tools for various reticles and low-latitude accuracy. It also includes a comprehensive suite of astro tools, from object databases to calculators and weather reports.
- Accurate polar alignment calculation
- Support for numerous polar scope reticles
- Daytime/no polarscope alignment tool
- Deep Space Object database
- Astrophotography calculators
- World astro-weather report
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Polar Scope Align Pro is a complete toolkit for amateur astronomers: accurate polar alignment, deep-sky observing, astro weather, push-to/manual GoTo, iOptron mount WiFi control, widgets and more. All features and updates are free forever. Optional in-app purchases are just tips to support development. POLAR ALIGNMENT • Calculates Polaris or σ Octantis position for 30+ reticle types: iOptron, Astro-Physics, Takahashi, Skywatcher, Vixen, Celestron, Orion, Astrotrac and others* • Atmospheric refraction correction for accuracy at any latitude • Works with or without a polar scope ALIGNMENT WITHOUT A POLAR SCOPE • Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment: works day and night with just your phone's gyro • Camera Azimuth Calibration: use sun/moon/stars to calibrate gyro and align accurately without a compass, immune to magnetic interference • Laser / Hop Align: nighttime alignment for maximum accuracy with a laser or a scope with no view of Polaris • Live sky map guides you to the celestial pole in real time • Sun Finder helps you point your filtered telescope/telephoto to the Sun PUSH TO (MANUAL GOTO) • Attach your phone to any scope and convert it to manual/push GoTo • Select from a large database and use direct push or more accurate hop-to mode DEEP SKY OBJECT DATABASE • 22,000+ objects with altitude graphs, rise/set times and more info • Save and manage curated observing lists • Filter, search, sort and push to any target XASTERIA ASTRO WEATHER • Hourly astronomy forecasts from 7Timer, OpenWeather, MET Norway and Apple Weather, plus a configurable Multi-source forecast • Animated satellite Cloud Map with recent EUMETSAT and NASA infrared imagery • Aurora forecasts • ISS and bright satellite passes with an All Sky night chart, individual sky charts, live map tracking, and Tiangong and Hubble views • Solar eclipse tool with past and future eclipses, live mode with audio cues • Experimental eclipse camera for automated photoshoots of partial phase, diamond ring, Baily's beads, totality bracketing • Interactive light pollution map using World Atlas and recent VIIRS data CALCULATORS & TOOLS • 30+ calculators for observing and astrophotography • Moon phase calendar with altitude graphs • Solar eclipse calculator and simulator • Bubble level & Compass IOPTRON WIFI MOUNT CONTROL • Connect to WiFi-enabled iOptron mounts (HAE, HAZ, HEM, CEM, GEM and more) • Automatic date/time/location setup • Switch between Equatorial and Alt-Az on mounts that support both • Move & Sync: directional control with a live sky map • Point GoTo: aim your phone at a patch of sky and send the mount there • Current Point Query: find out what the mount is pointing at • GoTo any object from the DSO Database NIGHT-FRIENDLY • Red, green or white night mode with dimmer WIDGETS • Configurable Tonight and Multi astronomy weather forecasts • Upcoming bright satellite passes • Aurora probability, activity forecast and NOAA aurora map * Full list of supported reticles: Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, iOptron, the latest Orion / Skywatcher, the Classic Skywatcher / Orion / Celestron / Meade / EXOS2 / Bresser / MSM, various versions of Takahashi EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z, the Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, a couple for Astrotrac / Losmandy / Kenko / Avalon, the Vixen PF-L/Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX/Polarie Polar Axis Scopes, a Konus and several Polar Finders: Tuthill, Explore Scientific 8x50, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical. PoleMaster help view for South Hemisphere users.
SynScan Pro
Control motorized telescope mounts for celestial observation and astrophotography. Features include precise slewing, alignment, GOTO, and tracking of stars, planets, and deep-sky objects. Supports advanced functions like polar alignment and camera triggering.
- Control telescope mount (slew, align, GOTO, track)
- Point and Track celestial objects
- Gamepad navigation support
- Catalog of celestial objects
- Third-party app integration (ASCOM, SkySafari)
- Polar alignment (with or without polar scope)
- Camera shutter release control
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Use the SynScan app to control Sky-Watcher telescope mounts via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE. Mounts without built-in Wi-Fi can be supported via a SynScan Wi-Fi adapter. This is the Pro version of the SynScan app and contains features suited for expert users using equatorial mounts. Features - Control telescope mount to slew, align, GOTO and track. - Point And Track: track celestial objects (including the Sun and planets) without aligning. - Support gamepad navigation. - Browse a catalog of stars, comets, and deep sky objects. Or, save your own objects. - Provide access to mount for use by third-party apps, including ASCOM clients, SkySafari, Luminos, Stellarium Mobile Plus, Stellarium Desktop or customer-developed apps. Also set up mount alignment for Luminos, Skysafari. - Support access to the mount and the SynScan app from any platform that supports TCP/UDP connections. - Provide emulator mount for testing and practicing. - Track fast-moving earth satellites by working with the PreviSat app on Windows PC or the Lumios app on iOS devices. - Perform polar alignment with or without a polar scope. - Control shutter release (SNAP) port to trigger an attached camera. (Requires mount with SNAP port and adapter cable that matches camera.) - Use ASCOM to perform autoguiding on mounts that do not have autoguider (ST-4) port. - Other mount controls: auto home, PPEC, park.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polar Scope Align Pro at 97% against SynScan Pro's 22%. Polar Scope Align Pro also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.6) and chart position (#58 vs unranked). SynScan Pro's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
SynScan Pro is free to download; Polar Scope Align Pro costs $3.99 up front. Polar Scope Align Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. SynScan Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.
Polar Scope Align Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align Pro has 305 ratings behind it against 51, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 97% of Polar Scope Align Pro's written reviews are positive against 22% of SynScan Pro's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and July 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Polar Scope Align Pro | SynScan Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (305 ratings) — better | 2.6 (51 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 97.0% of reviews — better | 21.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 305 — better | 51 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #58 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 46 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dimitrios Kechagias | Astropower Technology Co. Ltd. |
Customer experience
Polar Scope Align Pro
SynScan Pro
Bugs and requests
Polar Scope Align Pro
Reported bugs
2 issues- Weather Updates Not Working
- Compass Deflected by Mount
Requested features
2 requests- Add Observation Recording Feature
- Add Push To Option for DSO Objects
SynScan Pro
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Polar Scope Align Pro
- Tip 1x$0.99
- Tip 4x$3.99
- Tip 10x$9.99
SynScan Pro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Polar Scope Align Pro free?
Is SynScan Pro free?
Which has better reviews, Polar Scope Align Pro or SynScan Pro?
Do Polar Scope Align Pro or SynScan Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, Polar Scope Align Pro or SynScan Pro?
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