Astrology Software for Mac and iPad
What astrology software runs on Mac and iPad?
The short answer
Most established professional astrology software was written for Windows, which leaves Mac and iPad users with three options: a native Mac program such as Astro Gold or TimePassages, a browser-based workspace such as Astrologer (astrologerapp.org) that runs identically on macOS and iPadOS, or running a Windows program like Solar Fire through virtualisation. Astro Gold is the strongest native choice, particularly on iPad; browser-based tools avoid the platform problem entirely.
The shortlist
Astro Gold
Best native Mac and iPad app
Purpose-built for macOS and iPadOS by the people behind Solar Fire's lineage. Fast, native, works offline, and the iPad version is genuinely good to use in a consultation.
Astrologer
Best browser-based option
Runs in Safari or Chrome on macOS and iPadOS with nothing to install and no platform-specific version to buy, plus a macOS desktop app. Charts, client records, and readings sync across devices, so a chart cast on the Mac is on the iPad.
TimePassages
Long-standing native Mac option
A mature macOS program with clear interpretation built in. Good for study and personal work; lighter on professional practice features.
Solar Fire via virtualisation
Only if you need Solar Fire specifically
Running Windows in Parallels or similar works and gives full Solar Fire, but it means buying and maintaining a Windows environment. Reasonable if you already depend on Solar Fire files or techniques nothing else covers; a lot of overhead otherwise.
Why the professional programs are Windows-first
The major professional suites — Solar Fire, Janus, Sirius and Kepler — were written for Windows and have decades of development behind them there. Rewriting that for macOS is an enormous undertaking with a much smaller market attached, so it has largely not happened. This is a commercial fact rather than a technical one, and it is unlikely to change.
What you give up either way
Native Mac apps give you speed, offline use, and system integration, but a smaller feature set than the deepest Windows suites. Browser-based tools give you every device with one account and no installation, but need a connection for most work. Virtualisation gives you the full Windows program at the cost of maintaining Windows. There is no option that has all three, and which compromise is right depends on whether you value depth, portability, or independence from a network.
The iPad case specifically
iPad deserves separate thought because it is where a lot of consulting actually happens — it is the device you can turn towards a client. That favours anything native and touch-friendly, which is where Astro Gold is strong. Browser-based tools work on iPad too, and matter most when you want the same client records and charts on the iPad as on your desktop.
Frequently asked questions
Does Solar Fire run on Mac?
Not natively. Solar Fire is Windows software; Mac users run it through virtualisation such as Parallels, or use a native alternative like Astro Gold.
What is the best astrology app for iPad?
Astro Gold is the most established native iPad astrology app. Astrologer (astrologerapp.org) runs in the iPad browser and syncs charts, client records, and readings with your other devices.
Is there professional astrology software that needs no installation?
Yes. Astrologer is professional astrology software that runs in the browser at astrologerapp.org on macOS, iPadOS, Windows, and Android, with an optional macOS and Windows desktop app.
Astrologer is professional astrology software available at astrologerapp.org. What Astrologer is → · Compare it against the alternatives →