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Photography · head to head

NightCap vs Pic-Time

NightCap logo

NightCap

Photography

Long-exposure camera app for iOS aimed at night sky, star trail and light trail photography

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pic-Time logo

Pic-Time

Photography

Client galleries with an automated print store and marketing campaigns built in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pic-Time has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: NightCap it is iOS-only, so Android photographers cannot use it at all.; Pic-Time the commission on store sales means the true cost rises with your success, so a photographer with strong print revenue may pay far more than the subscription implies and should price the top tier against the percentage before choosing.
  • They diverge on capability: NightCap covers Manual exposure control, Pic-Time covers Designed galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NightCap and Pic-Time actually diverge.

Attributes where NightCap and Pic-Time differ
AttributeNightCapPic-Time
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasePer month by photo count
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOSWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Photography).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in NightCap

  • Manual exposure control
  • Star trail mode
  • Light trail mode
  • Northern lights mode
  • Meteor shower mode
  • Astro mode with stacking

Only in Pic-Time

  • Designed galleries
  • Automated store campaigns
  • Wall art visualiser
  • Album proofing
  • Regional lab fulfilment
  • Digital delivery

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

NightCap

  • An iPhone owner wanting star trail or Milky Way photos without buying a dedicated cameranot Pic-Time
  • A hobbyist photographing the northern lights who needs exposure control the stock camera app lacksnot Pic-Time
  • Someone capturing light trail shots of traffic or fireworks at nightnot Pic-Time
  • A photographer who prefers a one-time purchase app over yet another photography subscriptionnot Pic-Time

Pic-Time

  • A wedding photographer who wants print revenue from past clients without writing and sending the promotions personallynot NightCap
  • Studios where the gallery itself is part of the perceived product and a plain grid of thumbnails undersells the worknot NightCap
  • Album based workflows that need clients to comment on spreads rather than exchange PDFs by emailnot NightCap
  • Photographers with clients in several countries who need orders fulfilled by a lab local to the clientnot NightCap

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

NightCap

  • It is iOS-only, so Android photographers cannot use it at all.
  • Results are still limited by the physical sensor size and aperture of an iPhone, so it cannot match a dedicated mirrorless camera for astrophotography.
  • It requires a tripod or other stabilisation for most of its long-exposure modes, which is an extra cost and inconvenience beyond the app itself.
  • Its manual controls have a learning curve for someone used to a fully automatic point-and-shoot camera app.
  • As a niche app from a small developer, update cadence and long-term support are less predictable than a major platform vendor camera app.

Pic-Time

  • The commission on store sales means the true cost rises with your success, so a photographer with strong print revenue may pay far more than the subscription implies and should price the top tier against the percentage before choosing.
  • Storage is counted by photo, so high volume delivery pushes you up the tiers even when the files themselves are small.
  • There is no contracts, invoicing, booking or CRM module, so a working studio still pays for a separate management tool and reconciles two systems.
  • Lab coverage is uneven by country and some regions have a single partner, which removes any ability to shop for print quality or price.
  • The automated campaigns go out under your studio name on Pic-Time schedules, and photographers with a small or recently marketed client list can look pushy unless every sequence is edited by hand.

Pricing, plan by plan

NightCap

On request
  • NightCap$2.99/one-time
    • Full manual exposure control
    • All shooting modes included
    • No subscription

Pic-Time

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Small photo allowance for evaluating the platform
    • Store available with the commission that applies to this tier
  • Paid tiers$undefined/month
    • Priced by the number of photos stored
    • The sales commission differs by tier and falls on the higher plans
    • Automated marketing campaigns included from the paid tiers upward

Which should you pick?

Choose NightCap if

  • You need manual exposure control.
  • You work on iOS.
  • You also want star trail mode.
NightCap review

Choose Pic-Time if

  • You need designed galleries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated store campaigns.
Pic-Time review

Questions people ask

Is NightCap or Pic-Time better?
Neither clearly leads. NightCap starts at On request and Pic-Time at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NightCap or Pic-Time?
Pic-Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for NightCap and Free for Pic-Time.
Does NightCap or Pic-Time run on more platforms?
NightCap runs on iOS. Pic-Time runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Pic-Time for free?
Yes. Pic-Time has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. NightCap starts at On request.
What is NightCap best used for?
NightCap is most often used for an iphone owner wanting star trail or milky way photos without buying a dedicated camera, a hobbyist photographing the northern lights who needs exposure control the stock camera app lacks, someone capturing light trail shots of traffic or fireworks at night, a photographer who prefers a one-time purchase app over yet another photography subscription. Of those, an iphone owner wanting star trail or milky way photos without buying a dedicated camera and a hobbyist photographing the northern lights who needs exposure control the stock camera app lacks are not what Pic-Time is typically brought in for.
What can NightCap do that Pic-Time cannot?
NightCap covers Manual exposure control, Star trail mode, Light trail mode, Northern lights mode. Pic-Time covers Designed galleries, Automated store campaigns, Wall art visualiser, Album proofing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

NightCap: Is NightCap still maintained?

Yes, it remains listed and updated on the App Store, including a rebuilt version offered free to existing customers.

Pic-Time: Does Pic-Time take a percentage of print sales?

Yes, and the rate depends on the plan you are on, with the higher tiers reducing it. Check the current rate for your tier, because it usually outweighs the monthly price difference.

NightCap: Is it a subscription?

No, it is sold as a one-time purchase.

Pic-Time: Can it replace my studio management software?

No. There is no contract signing, invoicing or booking. Pic-Time covers delivery and sales only.

NightCap: Does it work on Android?

No, NightCap is iOS-only.

Pic-Time: Do clients need an account to view a gallery?

No. Galleries open from a link with an optional password, and an email is only requested when a client downloads or orders.

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