Polar Scope Align Pro vs PINE Motion
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.
PINE Motion
Control a universal motion device for cameras and other equipment. Enables advanced photographic and videographic techniques like time-lapses, panoramas, and 360-degree captures.
- Remote device control
- Time-Lapse
- Macro photography
- Video recording
- Giga-Pixel Panoramas
- 360-degree imaging
- Astro tracking
- Turntable control
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PINE is a compact and universal device that can be connected to a variety of different camera slider rails, pan & tilt heads, turntables and more, which are driven by stepper motors. It is THE tool for photographers and videographers who want to do motion controlled applications. Supported application modes include: * Time-Lapse * Macro * Video Recording * Giga-Pixel Panoramas * 360-degree Images & 360-degree Time-Lapse * Astro Tracking * Turntable * 3D-Scan
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PINE Motion at Free against Polar Scope Align Pro's $3.99. PINE Motion also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Polar Scope Align Pro's advantage is ratings volume (305 vs 1) and chart position (#64 vs unranked). On rating, update cadence, 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
PINE Motion is free to download; Polar Scope Align Pro costs $3.99 up front. Polar Scope Align Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. PINE Motion asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Polar Scope Align Pro against 5.0 for PINE Motion. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align Pro has 305 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Polar Scope Align Pro ships an update every 2 months, PINE Motion every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Polar Scope Align Pro | PINE Motion |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (305 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 97.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 305 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #64 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dimitrios Kechagias | Black Forest Motion |
Customer experience
Polar Scope Align Pro
PINE Motion
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
PINE Motion
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
PINE Motion
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Polar Scope Align Pro free?
Is PINE Motion free?
Which has better reviews, Polar Scope Align Pro or PINE Motion?
Do Polar Scope Align Pro or PINE Motion have ads?
Which is updated more often, Polar Scope Align Pro or PINE Motion?
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