# SynScan vs Cygnus Astro

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cygnus Astro at 67% against SynScan's 22%. Cygnus Astro also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Cygnus Astro holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of SynScan's written reviews are positive against 67% of Cygnus Astro's.

SynScan ships an update every 2 months, Cygnus Astro every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SynScan | Cygnus Astro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synscan/id1243086631/reviews) | **[4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cygnus-astro/id6745795760/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 46 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Astropower Technology Co. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1787940478) | [Christopher Ventura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1742045592) |

## What reviewers say

### SynScan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synscan/id1243086631)

Control motorized telescope mounts for celestial object tracking and exploration. Features include GOTO functionality, object catalogs, and gamepad navigation. Ideal for novice users with alt-azimuth mounts.

**Highlights:** Control telescope mount slew, align, GOTO, and track, Point and Track celestial objects, Support gamepad navigation, Browse and save celestial object catalogs, Third-party app integration (ASCOM, SkySafari, Stellarium), Emulator mount for testing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cygnus Astro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cygnus-astro/id6745795760)

Control your astrophotography equipment remotely from your mobile device. This app provides a touch-friendly interface to connect, monitor, and manage your N.I.N.A. software and connected gear, simplifying your setup in the field.

**Highlights:** Remote equipment control, N.I.N.A. software integration, Mobile touch interface, Real-time exposure preview, Open-source and free

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SynScan free?

SynScan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cygnus Astro free?

Cygnus Astro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SynScan or Cygnus Astro?

Cygnus Astro is rated higher. SynScan averages 3.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Cygnus Astro averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do SynScan or Cygnus Astro have ads?

Neither SynScan nor Cygnus Astro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SynScan or Cygnus Astro?

SynScan ships an update every 2 months, and Cygnus Astro every 5 days. Most recently, SynScan was updated on October 20, 2026 and Cygnus Astro on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*