Yes, LightPlan is free. The free version is a complete sun and moon planner for today and the next 2 days, with golden and blue hour, 3D maps, AR Sky View, the Moon Calendar and the Milky Way Planner. It has no time limit and needs no account. LightPlan Pro, at $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year in the US, opens every date and adds Observer View, Shadow Map, weather layers, the full Milky Way forecast and every alert.
Everything in Free and Pro
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Sun and moon lines, rise and set times, the timeline | ✓ | ✓ |
| Golden hour and blue hour | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dates | Today and the next 2 days | Any date, years ahead or back |
| Saved locations | 5 | Unlimited |
| Photorealistic 3D, Terrain 3D and 2D maps, camera presets | ✓ | ✓ |
| AR Sky View | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3D Compass | ✓ | ✓ |
| Moon Calendar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Share plan links | ✓ | ✓ |
| Milky Way Planner | Any free date, and the 3 best nights | The 30-night forecast, alerts, and the core in AR |
| Observer View | — | ✓ |
| Shadow Map | — | ✓ |
| Weather layers (cloud cover and precipitation) | — | ✓ |
| Alerts | Sunrise and sunset | Every event, on the days you choose |
| Widgets | 14-day trial on the Home Screen | ✓ |
| Price | Free | $2.99/month or $19.99/year |
As of LightPlan 3.0, October 2026. Free and Pro are the same on iPhone (including iPhone Duo), iPad, Mac and Android, except where a feature needs a particular device: AR Sky View needs a phone or tablet camera, and Siri and iCloud sync are on Apple devices.
What you can do for free
- Plan this weekend's sunrise or sunset anywhere on Earth: where the sun comes up, when golden hour starts and ends, and the colour of the light.
- Line up the moon: moonrise and moonset directions and times, and the Moon Calendar with every phase, eclipse and stage of twilight.
- See it on the real sky with AR Sky View on location.
- Find a Milky Way night: the Milky Way Planner on any free date, and the 3 best nights ahead at your location.
- Share the plan as a link that opens in LightPlan or on the web.
- Save 5 spots with their views, and get sunrise and sunset alerts.
What Pro adds
- Any date: plan a trip months away, or the moon over a peak next winter.
- Observer View: stand where you'll shoot, at eye level, with your focal length. New in 3.0.
- Shadow Map: real shadows from buildings and terrain at any time.
- Weather layers: cloud cover and precipitation on the map, hour by hour, about five days ahead.
- The full Milky Way forecast: all 30 nights ranked, Great Milky Way Nights alerts, and the core in AR.
- Every alert, on the days of the week you choose, plus widgets and unlimited saved locations.
What Pro costs, and how to start
LightPlan Pro is $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year in the US; the yearly plan works out at about $1.67 a month. Both start with a free trial, renew automatically, and are sold through the App Store and Google Play, which show the price in your local currency.
In LightPlan, tap the LightPlan Pro card at the bottom of the menu, or any PRO badge. You can manage or cancel Pro in your Apple Account settings (iPhone, iPad, Mac) or your Google Play account (Android).
Frequently asked questions
Is LightPlan free?
Yes. LightPlan is free to use every day on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android, with no account and no time limit. The free version includes sun and moon lines and times, golden and blue hour, all four maps, AR Sky View, the 3D Compass, the Moon Calendar, the Milky Way Planner and plan links, for today and the next 2 days, with up to 5 saved locations.
Is there a free alternative to PhotoPills?
Yes. LightPlan is a free PhotoPills alternative. Its free version plans the sun and moon on real 3D maps, times golden and blue hour, shows the sun and moon on the real sky in AR Sky View, and includes the Moon Calendar and Milky Way Planner. LightPlan Pro adds any date, Observer View, Shadow Map and cloud and rain forecasts. Compare LightPlan and PhotoPills.
Does the free version expire?
No. The free version has no time limit. It always covers today and the next 2 days; Pro opens every date.
Do I need an account?
No. LightPlan works without an account. On iPhone, iPad and Mac, saved locations sync through your own iCloud account.
What does LightPlan Pro cost?
LightPlan Pro is $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year in the US, and starts with a free trial. It's an auto-renewing subscription through the App Store or Google Play, which show the price in your local currency before you subscribe. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings (iPhone, iPad, Mac) or your Google Play account (Android).
Are widgets free?
Home Screen widgets are free to try for 14 days, then part of Pro.
Plan your best light with LightPlan
The sun, moon and Milky Way over real 3D maps — free to use.
