Looking for a PhotoPills alternative? It depends what you shoot.
PhotoPills is the gold standard for serious photographers, planning sun, moon and Milky Way shots in detail. Asterfold is simpler: the sunset planner for the places you actually watch from, free to download. Four questions will point you to the right one.
Which one fits you? 4 quick questions
PhotoPills vs Asterfold at a glance
| PhotoPills | Asterfold | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Photographers planning detailed shots | Anyone who loves a good sunset from their own spots |
| Depth | Sun, moon, Milky Way, augmented reality and much more | Sun, moon and planets, with saved viewpoints |
| Honesty of data | See its listing | Calculated, forecast and observed data labelled differently |
| Price | $10.99 to download | Free download, optional subscription or lifetime |
| App Store ratings | 4.7 from about 1,500 ratings | Newer, fewer ratings so far |
Facts from each app's App Store listing, November 2026. Asterfold is made by Honest Little Apps, the studio behind this page.
The best sunset isn't always at sunset
The richest colour often comes 10 to 20 minutes after the sun goes down, when clouds light up from below. Stay a little longer than everyone else.
Plan tonight with our free golden hour tools.
Asterfold: Sunset Planner plans sunsets for the places you actually watch from. Save your exact spot, see when the light will be best, and works offline. Free download, with optional upgrades.
Free on the App StoreQuestions
Is there a free alternative to PhotoPills?
Asterfold is a free-to-download sunset planner for everyday sunset watchers. For pro photography planning, PhotoPills is the standard.
Does Asterfold work offline?
Yes. Sun and moon positions are calculated on your iPhone.
Where did these comparison facts come from?
From each app's App Store listing in November 2026. Features and prices change, so check the listing before you decide.
Updated November 11, 2026.
- Golden hour and blue hour calculatorPick a city or use your location and a date. See when golden hour and blue hour start and end, morning and evening, with sunrise and sunset. Free, no sign-up.
- How long until sunsetA live countdown to tonight's sunset where you are. See the minutes left, sunrise and sunset times, when dusk ends and how long today is.
- How to plan a sunset proposal: a timing sheetSort the evening into order, then print a one-page sunset proposal run sheet: arrive-by time, the ask, where the photographer stands, the cloud check.