Top Suncalc Alternatives for Tracking Sun Movement and Light Phases
Suncalc is a popular little online application with an interactive map that shows sun movement and sunlight phases during a given day at a given location. While Suncalc is incredibly useful for photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, and planners, you might be looking for more advanced features, specific platform compatibility, or simply a different user experience. This guide explores the best Suncalc alternative options available today.
Best Suncalc Alternatives
Whether you're a professional photographer planning the perfect shot, an adventurer needing to know golden hour times, or just curious about the sun's path, these alternatives offer enhanced functionalities and tailored experiences that might better suit your needs than Suncalc.
Sun Surveyor
Sun Surveyor is a robust Suncalc alternative that calculates Sun and Moon Positions, Sunrise & Sunset and Moonrise & Moonset times, Solar Noon, Golden Hour and Blue Hour times, Moon Phases, and Shadow information. It's a commercial application available on Android, iPhone, and iPad, and features location-based tracking, making it ideal for on-the-go planning.
The Photographer's Ephemeris
The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) is a highly respected Suncalc alternative, especially for photographers. It helps you plan outdoor photography in natural light, particularly landscape and urban scenes, with a map-centric sun and moon calculator. TPE is a commercial application available across Mac, Windows, Web, Android, iPhone, and iPad, offering both location-based and mapping features.
SunIZup
SunIZup is a commercial Suncalc alternative designed for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and tvOS. It helps users know the timings of various sunlight phases, including the Golden Hour and Blue Hour (also known as Magic Hour by photographers). While it doesn't list specific advanced features beyond these timings, its multi-device compatibility makes it convenient for Apple users.
Sun Intervals
Sun Intervals offers a functional diagram and easy-to-read interface to display exactly how much daylight is left in the day. This commercial Suncalc alternative is available for iPhone and iPad, providing a straightforward approach to tracking daylight, making it a simple yet effective tool for quick checks.
Sol: Sun Clock
Sol: Sun Clock is a commercial Suncalc alternative available on iPhone and iPad, ideal for those who need reminders. It notifies users when it's sunrise or sunset, wherever they travel. This app is particularly great for photographers who want to find the golden hour times on any date, anywhere, thanks to its alarm, location-based, and timer features.
SUNSETWX
SUNSETWX is a free, web-based Suncalc alternative that models and forecasts sunset quality using an in-depth algorithm comprised of meteorological factors. While it doesn't provide the same comprehensive sun movement data as Suncalc, its unique focus on sunset quality makes it a valuable niche tool for enthusiasts and photographers seeking optimal conditions for sunset viewing.
Each of these Suncalc alternative options brings something unique to the table, from comprehensive professional tools to simple, specialized apps. Consider your specific needs regarding platform, features, and budget to find the best fit for tracking sun movement and light phases.