There are many computerized programs that can be used by amateur and professional astrologers. I present here, in alphabetical order, the main programs for Western astrology (the programs for Indian astrology (Jyotisha) and Chinese astrology (Suanming) will be presented soon in different posts).
Unlike non-commercial programs, all commercial programs have the ACS international atlas included, which makes the generation of horoscopes very fast, with no effort and time lost by the astrologer.
Almost all important programs will be analyzed and compared in my astrology articles and courses so you can acquire them knowingly and make the most of their unique features. Of course, you can download any of the free programs as well as demo versions for almost all commercial programs so you can test them yourself.
Commercial software for desktop
Aquarius – an Austrian commercial software, with a freeware version. Nice graphics and a very easy to use interface. Useful for the practitioners of modern astrology (very few traditional features available). I particularly enjoy the ‘Horizon System’ function which lets you project a chart on the actual horizon using azimuth coordinates (very useful in horary, electional, mundane, and geomantic interpretation). Prices between 79 and 119 EUR.
Almagest – a Russian software
Argus – a Danish software for modern astrology (with trial version). It seems to be overpriced.
Astrocalc – a program that integrates modern techniques. It comes in several editions, for different pockets. However, some free programs are better.
Astro Connect – a german software, with beautiful graphics. A bit too expensive for its capabilities.
Astro Gold Mac OS – probably the best application for Mac users, the software is very elegant and well-crafted; it looks similar to Solar Fire (but not as capable!). Its files are fully compatible and interchangeable with Solar Fire desktop for PC, as well as Astro Gold iOS for iPhone and iPad. You can buy it for 180 USD (the professional reports are sold separately).
Astrology for Windows – a good program with interface in multiple languages.
Astro-PC – a remarkable French program with the interface available in English, French, Italian, and Spanish. I’ve tested the demo version and fell in love with it. It works on PC, but also Mac with Windows installed. Outstanding graphics and capabilities! It can be used by the practitioners of classical, as well as modern astrology. It’s above many established commercial programs – unfortunately, it’s less well known and a bit steep: it’s basic version costs 330 EUR, the professional version – 530 EUR which makes it one of the most expensive astrology programs on the market.
Astroquick – a program with basic features. It works on PC, Linux and Mac OS.
AstroMart – a program with basic functionalities.
Astro Plus – a software in german language. At 350 EUR, the Pro edition seems very pricey to me.
Astroworld – a german software. I haven’t tested it yet.
Delphic Oracle – an excellent program, especially for Hellenistic astrologers. Probably the only one that integrates all the nuances of the ancient Hellenistic techniques. It develops continuously as discoveries are made at the origins of the astrological tradition.
Galiastro – a well known program in the Germanic-speaking Europe.
Interpid a program focused on modern astrology. It runs on both Mac and Windows The price is $175.
Janus – one of the best astrology programs available. It has excellent modules for natal, horary, medieval, and Cosmobiology calculating all the necessary charts, with the possibility of animating them. The modules include reports that can be edited by the astrologer.
Kairon – a modest software, for Macs. The price is € 100 for a full professional licence with full ACS atlas.
Kepler – a very good program with many important features. It provides very complex astrological reports that can be used commercially.
Mastro – Canadian software with a free version
Megastar – a Swiss program with menu in German; far too expensive compared to what it can do!
Mercurius – a very expensive program with German and English versions that can correctly calculate primary directions by the methods of Placidus semi-arc and Regiomontanus
Millennium Star Trax – a very ingenious program offered by AIR Software, although the interface is lacking in design.
Nova Chartweels – a powerful software from Astrolabe with special graphics and drag & drop features. Price: $220
Pegasus – a lite version of Kepler
Placidus – an excellent program of ancient (Babylonian and Hellenistic) and medieval astrology from Rumen Kolev. From what I hear, the capabilities of this program are great! The software is now distributed through Astrolabe and is one of the best programs for antique and medieval astrology on the market (competing only with Delphic Oracle).
Placidus 4.1 – probably the most renowned Hungarian software, with a free version. It looks a bit like the free software Morinus.
Phasis – an amazing Italian classical (Ptolemaic) astrological program, functional on Windows and Mac, in English and Italian.
Prometheus – a recently released program with nice graphics (including 3D). It’s getting better and better.
Regulus – although it’s specialized in the Huber system, it has important capabilities in traditional approaches.
Sarastro – a program with complex functionalities and a very pleasant interface in German. Prices between € 100 and € 300.
Sirius – includes all of Kepler’s features, but also adds some advanced features. An excellent program for astrological research! In competition with Solar Fire, Sirius is one of the best astrology programs!
Solar Fire – the most widely used professional astrology program. It has a very nice interface and excellent features, it offers all the working capabilities, many calculation options, a wide variety of chart formats, including superb animations and graphics and well-written reports. Even a simple enumeration of the basic features would take too much space (and time) to be appropriate here.
Time Cycles – a software exclusively for Mac. It has several modules that can be purchased separately.
TimePassages – very intuitive and easy to use, with excellent design, but very expensive. It can run on both Windows and Mac OS. It can be used by astrologers who only use the modern techniques of “modern” astrology (transits, progressions, solar and lunar returns, synastry, mid-points, etc.), so it does not integrate the important features of traditional astrology, which – in my opinion – is an inconvenient disadvantage for any astrologer to take seriously!
Vision – a program known especially on the German-speaking market.
Winstar – probably among the first commercial astrological programs in the world and one of the best currently available, a product of over 35 years of continuous development. Prices between $180 and $360
Zet – an outstanding Russian program. Prices between $ 100 and $160.
Free software for desktop
Astrolog – the object of the nostalgia for many astrologers around the World. It was good, it was free (it’s still good, it’s still free!). Functional on all major platforms (Windows, Mac, Unix). There are several variations of the original version on the market.
AstrologR – the best Romanian software available. It runs on Windows machines.
Astrology for Windows – the free version of the commercial software.
Astrowin – very good! Read below under the Free Special Programs section.
Cosmic Star – a free basic program that can produce a Natal Chart and a short natal report.
Mastro -the free version of the commercial Canadian software
Morinus – an amazing program. This is my favorite free software (and I often prefer it to commercial programs); it focuses on traditional techniques, without useless modern ornaments. Works on Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac OS.
OpenAstro – a tiny, but capable software designed for Linux users
Planetdance – a free Windows program with interesting features.
Star Fisher a pretty capable piece of software
Urania – a Windows software compiled in Poland and based on.
Astrolog. It can be also adapted for Mac and Linux.
Valens – a program of Hellenistic astrology based on Morinus
What Watch – a powerful tool (with a very nice interface) that covers many areas and techniques of astrology. It works on both Windows and MacOS.
Zet Lite – the free version of the commercial Zet.
Commercial specialized programs
AIR Software – many specialized programs grouped under the same umbrella. Decision making, statistical research, horoscope rectification, stock market speculation etc. become so much more sophisticated.
Astrallis – a commercial program specialized in the calculation of primary directions.
Astrology Forecast Software – software for primary directions
Astrotides – a software for lunar astrolog from Astrolabe
Day Watch – a comprehensive astrological calendar program.
Genius Loci – from a Hungarian developer. It calculates geocentric and topocentric positions of the planets, angular speed values, apparent magnitudes, distances from Earth and many more.
Horizons – a great tool for anyone interested in astro-mapping and relocation.
Inner Sky Discovery –from the creator of Genius Loci and Astrology Forecast. It can display various types of constellations (western zodiacal, Indian nakshatras, Chinese Xiu, Arabic Manazil)
JigSaw – an expensive, but smart piece of software for rectification and research (which helps in understanding the family and group dynamics)
MagiOracle – specialized in financial astrology. I don’t know what it does, but I know it exists!
Planetary Aspects and Transits – a group of four Windows programs that calculates geocentric and heliocentric astrological aspects, world transits, personal transits and synastry. It seems to be useful in trading as well.
Solar Maps – a software for locational astrology
Solar Writer – report writers produced by the creators of Solar Fire
Special Uranian – a very complex program specialized in uranian astrology
Starlight – a rather expensive program, focused on the astrology of fixed stars. Finds all the star relationships in a natal chart and then delineates them.
Timaeus – a very simplified version of Delphi Oracle. Runs in the background and shows (using visual and sound signals) the planetary hours, but also gives access to the entire astrological chart of the moment. Very useful in horary and elective astrology.
Free specialized programs
Astrowin – besides the very good program with the same name, it includes a wide range of small programs specialized in natal and relational horoscopy, forecasts, vocational, horary and elective astrology, generously offered by Allen Edwall.
AstroClock – a little Windows program to display planet positions transparently on your desktop.
Cenon – introduces some novel ideas and techniques. It runs on Mac and Linux
ChronosXP – Before installing Timaeus, Chronos calculated the planetary hours for me for many years
Ryal for Windows – I use it mainly for determining the positions of the trans-neptunian objects
Zodiacal Aphesis – a small piece of software specialized in calculating the periods of releasing of planetary energies developed in the Hellenistic astrology. I used to use it, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been updated for a long time.
Mobile applications (free and commercial)
Aquarius2Go – an Android app. It calculates natal charts, transits, progressions, solar returns, synastries, composite charts.
Astro Gold – a great app for iOS and Android. I have it on my phone and tablet.
Astrologie Aura – a pretty advanced Russian commercial app, with a free version
AstroVizor – a Russian software
Astrowin – besides its desktop program, it offers a free app for Android and Kindle that displays daily transits to the natal chart.
Celeste -free astrological calculations on your iPhone, iPad and Android from Astrolabe
Kairon – an excellent app for iPhone and iPad
Planetdance – offers not only a Windows program, but an Android app as well. Very capable in terms of functionalities.
Smart Astrology – functional on Android. It provides a graphic display of transits and progressions relative to your natal chart for a given moment.
TimePassages Pro – with free and paid versions, works on iOS. It offers astrological options that are relatively advanced compared to what other mobile apps have to offer on the “astrological market”
Tropical Skies – an Android app
Paid web-services
AIR Software online service – offers the ability to calculate natal and transit charts, in addition to other interesting options (Astro-cartography, Astro-calendar etc.)
Astroapp – the best commercial web-service available. The access is based on subscription, at fair prices. It offers a wide variety of utilities and is intended to be a universal program, valid for all styles of astrology. The major advantage is that the app can be run on all mobile devices.
Free web services
Astroapp – mentioned above. It has a free option, limited in capabilities. It calculates your natal map, provides tables with essential dignities and other things.
Astroagg – a web application based on the old software Astrolog.
Astrodienst – offers the best way to get astrological charts, especially when you don’t have an astrology program installed on your computer. It can be extremely helpful even for the professional astrologer.
Astrograph – calculates your chart once you have an account on your website.
Astrolabe – besides the outstanding desktops programs, Astrolabe offers a free calculation of a horoscope for any time and location.
Astromart – calculates natal charts, synastries and transits
Astrotheme – calculates radix charts, transits, solar revolution, secondary and solar arc progressions, synastries, composite charts etc.
Astrowin – in addition to all the great free programs, Astrowin also offers excellent online service! You sign up as a member (with username and password), then you have access to online software for calculating different charts, as well as a database for the people whose data you are entering.
Capricorn Astrology – a free chart generation service
NASA web service – see the Moon exactly as it appears, in its proper phase and angle
Zet – besides the commercial program with the same name, it calculates the native chart online.
Online Atlas
Astrodienst – calculates coordinates for most of the world’s major locations. If you have a program that does not have an atlas integrated, you have to determine the coordinates of your native or current location by another method. Astrodienst offers the best in astrological terms.
Google Maps – it no longer needs a presentation
GPS-Coordinates – excellent for determining the coordinates of localities
Map Coordinates – based on Google Maps
LatLong – quickly discovers the coordinates of the locality that interests you.
Satellite Signals – calculates coordinates even for very obscure localities.
Online Ephemeris
Astrowin – determines the positions of the planets for any date from 1901 to 2048.
Astrodienst – the renowned Swiss Ephemeris (from the guys who have generated them from the very beginning)
Horizons web-interface – accurate ephemeris from California Institute of Technology
My advice
If you want a program for your private or professional practice, choose knowingly! It’s good to understand what each one can do and whether it meets your needs, integrates the techniques and approaches you use, and matches the technology you have at your disposal. At the same time, the program should give you the opportunity to do astrological research and to experiment with techniques that are not yet familiar to you. A program should be simple and easy to use, make your work easier and not throw you in the fog!
Many programs (especially commercial) try to meet all needs but sometimes include a wealth of very strange techniques and approaches that have neither a solid theoretical foundation nor the support of the astrological tradition. For me, an alternative option is (was) to use several free programs that make different things and complement each other. If you can overlook the discomfort and the lost time with entering the data in each program, this may be an option that will save you money. There are many good, free programs that – taken together- cover the practical needs of the most sophisticated astrologers!