Comparison

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch vs SynScan Pro

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 Watch

This app provides precise polar alignment for telescopes, with or without a polar scope. It includes a comprehensive suite of astronomical tools, such as a DSO database, calculators, and mount control. An accompanying watch app offers real-time alignment data and weather information.

Highlights
  • Precise polar alignment calculation
  • Polar scope reticle selection
  • Daytime/no polarscope alignment
  • Deep Space Object database
  • Astronomical calculators
  • iOptron mount control
  • Apple Watch companion app
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 (7Timer, OpenWeather, MET Norway, Apple Weather) • Aurora forecasts • ISS and bright satellite passes with sky chart, 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 • Light pollution data from the World Atlas and recent VIIRS satellite radiance 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 • Tonight's weather, satellite passes and aurora forecast APPLE WATCH COMPANION APP • Graphic & text display of polar alignment • Weather view • Bubble level • Day alignment & push/hop-to assist • Moon/Sun rise/set/twilight/phase • Weather Tonight widget/complication * 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

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch4 screens
SynScan Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polar Scope Align Pro Watch at 100% against SynScan Pro's 22%. Polar Scope Align Pro Watch also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.6). SynScan Pro's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SynScan Pro is free to download; Polar Scope Align Pro Watch costs $4.99 up front. Polar Scope Align Pro Watch sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. SynScan Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 50 and 51 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Polar Scope Align Pro Watch's written reviews are positive against 22% of SynScan Pro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch ships an update every 6 weeks, SynScan Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch versus SynScan Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolar Scope Align Pro WatchSynScan Pro
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (50 ratings) — better2.6 (51 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better21.5% of reviews
Number of ratings5051 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDimitrios KechagiasAstropower Technology Co. Ltd.

Customer experience

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch

All ratings50 ratings
Positive98.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SynScan Pro

All ratings51 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral13.7%
Negative52.9%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive21.5%
Neutral20.4%
Negative58.1%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Polar Scope Align Pro Watch

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

SynScan Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Polar Scope Align Pro Watch free?
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SynScan Pro free?
SynScan Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Polar Scope Align Pro Watch or SynScan Pro?
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch is rated higher. Polar Scope Align Pro Watch averages 4.9 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while SynScan Pro averages 2.6 from 51 ratings.
Do Polar Scope Align Pro Watch or SynScan Pro have ads?
Neither Polar Scope Align Pro Watch nor SynScan Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Polar Scope Align Pro Watch or SynScan Pro?
Polar Scope Align Pro Watch ships an update every 6 weeks, and SynScan Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Polar Scope Align Pro Watch was updated on September 21, 2026 and SynScan Pro on July 4, 2026.

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