LightPlan vs Sun Surveyor, at a glance
Sun Surveyor is a well-made app with a live augmented-reality view and a 3D compass — hold your phone up on location and watch the sun and moon paths overlaid on the real world. LightPlan has AR too — an AR Sky View — but its real strength is planning ahead: a 3D map you scrub through time to see how the light will fall over the actual terrain, with the Milky Way and the weather built in, so you arrive already knowing the shot. Here's an honest side-by-side.
| LightPlan | Sun Surveyor | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Planning ahead, remotely, over real terrain | Live checks on location |
| Sun & moon position and timing | Yes — in 3D over terrain | Yes (AR + map) |
| Augmented reality (AR) view | Yes — AR Sky View | Yes |
| 3D terrain visualization | Yes — real elevation | Limited |
| Real-time 3D shadows (Shadow View) | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Milky Way planner | Yes — core rise, azimuth, altitude, season | Milky Way visualization |
| Cloud cover & precipitation overlays | Built in (Pro) | No integrated forecast overlays |
| Moon phase calendar | Yes — daily illumination | Ephemeris data |
| Event alerts (sunrise, golden hour, moon) | Yes | Limited |
| 3D compass view | Yes | Yes |
| Home & lock screen widgets | Yes (incl. Milky Way widget) | Limited |
| Platforms | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Price | Free to use; some premium features via subscription | Paid (with optional subscription) |
Comparison based on publicly available information and intended as a fair, factual overview; features and pricing may change — please verify on each app's store listing. "Sun Surveyor" is a trademark of its respective owner. LightPlan is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sun Surveyor.
Why photographers choose LightPlan
Plan over real terrain
Scrub a 3D map through time to see the sun, moon, and Milky Way behind real mountains — before you leave home, from anywhere in the world.
Weather & Milky Way built in
Cloud cover and precipitation overlays plus a dedicated Milky Way planner and moon phase calendar — everything you need for a clear, dark-sky night in one app.
Free to use
Begin planning for free on iOS and Android, with no account. Upgrade to Pro only when you want weather overlays, Shadow View, and unlimited planning.
Frequently asked questions
Is LightPlan a good alternative to Sun Surveyor?
Yes. Sun Surveyor is excellent for live augmented-reality sun and moon paths and a 3D compass on location. LightPlan is the stronger choice for planning ahead remotely: it shows the sun, moon, and Milky Way in 3D over real terrain, adds built-in cloud and precipitation overlays, a Milky Way planner, and a moon phase calendar, and is free to use on both iOS and Android.
What does LightPlan do that Sun Surveyor doesn't?
LightPlan focuses on remote 3D planning: see the sun, moon, and Milky Way in 3D over real mountains before you travel, with Shadow View for real-time terrain and building shadows. It also builds cloud and precipitation overlays into the map and includes a dedicated Milky Way planner and visibility widget, so you can plan around the weather without a separate app.
Does LightPlan have augmented reality like Sun Surveyor?
Yes. LightPlan includes an AR Sky View for lining up the sun, moon, and Milky Way against the real sky on location. Its main strength, though, is planning ahead: you scrub a 3D map through time to see exactly how the sun, moon, and Milky Way will sit over the real terrain — ideal for planning a shoot in advance, from anywhere.
Is LightPlan free, and does it work on Android?
LightPlan is free to use on both iOS and Android. The free tier includes 3D sun and moon visualization for any location, up to 72 hours of planning, preset camera angles, a 3D compass, up to 5 saved locations, and golden hour timings. Pro adds weather overlays, Shadow View, an unlimited time range, unlimited locations, widgets, and custom camera presets.
Can LightPlan plan Milky Way and astrophotography?
Yes. The Milky Way planner shows when the galactic core rises, its azimuth and altitude over your scene, and which nights fall within Milky Way season. Combined with a moon phase calendar to find dark nights, cloud cover overlays to find clear skies, and a Milky Way visibility widget, it covers astrophotography planning end to end.
Plan your best light with LightPlan
3D sun, moon, and Milky Way planning over real terrain — free to use.
