Comparison

Polar Scope Align Pro vs norlys

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 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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

norlys

This app provides a real-time world map and data to assist in tracking and chasing the northern lights. It simplifies the process of finding optimal viewing conditions for aurora displays.

Highlights
  • Real-time world map
  • Aurora data products
  • Northern lights tracking
  • Optimized viewing conditions
  • Chasing assistance
Features
Read full description

Norlys gives you real-time data to help you spot the Northern Lights without the clutter. Features: Live Aurora Map: Track global intensity as it happens. Night Sky Webcams: Check current sky conditions right on the map. Alerts & Widgets: Get notified when activity occurs. Solar Wind Data: Access raw metrics and figures. Simple, clear, and ready when the sky lights up.

Screenshots

Polar Scope Align Pro4 screens
norlys4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: norlys at Free against Polar Scope Align Pro's $4.99. Polar Scope Align Pro's advantage is ratings volume (310 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

norlys is free to download; Polar Scope Align Pro costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Polar Scope Align Pro against 5.0 for norlys. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align Pro has 310 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Polar Scope Align Pro ships an update every 2 months, norlys every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Polar Scope Align Pro versus norlys: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolar Scope Align Pronorlys
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (310 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews96.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings310 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDimitrios KechagiasHugo Lageneste

Customer experience

Polar Scope Align Pro

All ratings309 ratings
Positive99.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews272 reviews
Positive96.7%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.6%

norlys

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

norlys

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Polar Scope Align Pro

No in-app purchases

None

norlys

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Polar Scope Align Pro free?
Polar Scope Align Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is norlys free?
norlys is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Polar Scope Align Pro or norlys?
norlys is rated higher. Polar Scope Align Pro averages 4.9 out of 5 from 310 ratings, while norlys averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Polar Scope Align Pro or norlys have ads?
Neither Polar Scope Align Pro nor norlys shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Polar Scope Align Pro or norlys?
Polar Scope Align Pro ships an update every 2 months, and norlys every 3 months. Most recently, Polar Scope Align Pro was updated on November 6, 2026 and norlys on October 30, 2026.

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