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Photography · head to head

NightCap vs Stellarium

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
Stellarium logo

Stellarium

Education

Free open source desktop planetarium software, distinct from the paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Stellarium 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.; Stellarium it is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • They diverge on capability: NightCap covers Manual exposure control, Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NightCap and Stellarium actually diverge.

Attributes where NightCap and Stellarium differ
AttributeNightCapStellarium
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOSWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryPhotographyEducation

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

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 Stellarium

  • Photorealistic sky rendering
  • Large object catalogue
  • Telescope control
  • Scripting engine
  • Free and open source
  • Plugin ecosystem

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 Stellarium
  • A hobbyist photographing the northern lights who needs exposure control the stock camera app lacksnot Stellarium
  • Someone capturing light trail shots of traffic or fireworks at nightnot Stellarium
  • A photographer who prefers a one-time purchase app over yet another photography subscriptionnot Stellarium

Stellarium

  • A student or educator wanting a serious, scriptable planetarium tool without a budget line itemnot NightCap
  • An amateur astronomer wanting telescope control from desktop software they can inspect and modifynot NightCap
  • Someone running a planetarium display or public astronomy event on a scripted shownot NightCap
  • A hobbyist who wants a large object catalogue without paying a subscription, and does not need a phone appnot 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.

Stellarium

  • It is desktop-only software, so it has no native touch-optimised phone interface; the similarly named mobile app is a different paid product from a different company.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, support is community-based rather than a guaranteed commercial help desk.
  • The interface, while capable, is less immediately intuitive for a first-time user than a polished commercial phone app.
  • Telescope control and some advanced plugins require additional setup that a non-technical user may find fiddly.
  • Because it shares a name with the unrelated paid Stellarium Mobile Plus app, buyers researching pricing online can easily conflate the two products.

Pricing, plan by plan

NightCap

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

Stellarium

Free
  • Stellarium DesktopFree
    • Full software, GPL licensed
    • No account, ads or subscription
    • Community-developed plugins

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 Stellarium if

  • You need photorealistic sky rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want large object catalogue.
Stellarium review

Questions people ask

Is NightCap or Stellarium better?
Neither clearly leads. NightCap starts at On request and Stellarium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NightCap or Stellarium?
Stellarium has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for NightCap and Free for Stellarium.
Does NightCap or Stellarium run on more platforms?
NightCap runs on iOS. Stellarium runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Stellarium for free?
Yes. Stellarium 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 Stellarium is typically brought in for.
What can NightCap do that Stellarium cannot?
NightCap covers Manual exposure control, Star trail mode, Light trail mode, Northern lights mode. Stellarium covers Photorealistic sky rendering, Large object catalogue, Telescope control, Scripting engine.

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.

Stellarium: Is Stellarium really free?

The desktop software is free and open source under the GPL licence. The separate mobile app, Stellarium Mobile Plus, is a different paid product.

NightCap: Is it a subscription?

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

Stellarium: Is the mobile app made by the same team?

No. Stellarium Mobile Plus is built by Noctua Software, a different company, and is sold on subscription.

NightCap: Does it work on Android?

No, NightCap is iOS-only.

Stellarium: What platforms does the free version run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux desktop.

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