Bubble Level + Compass vs Cygnus Astro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bubble Level + Compass
This utility app provides a precise bubble level for horizontal, vertical, and surface angle measurements, along with a true-north compass. It offers advanced calibration options and works on iOS devices. A Pro version is available for additional features.
- Horizontal and vertical level measurements
- Surface angle readings
- True north compass
- Advanced calibration
- Magnetic declination reading
- Accelerometer/Gyro switch
Read full descriptionHide full description
Bubble Level + Compass combines a bubble level and a compass, with advanced controls for users who want more than the basics. Use it to check horizontal/vertical/surface angles, or get compass direction relative to either true or magnetic north. For users who work with physical compasses, magnetic declination is also provided to convert magnetic readings to true north readings. The level includes gyroscope calibration, which is especially useful on phones with a raised camera bump or an uneven back/case. No nagging popups or interruptions. The free version only includes a small banner ad at the bottom. Features • Bullseye level plus horizontal and vertical levels with 0.1 degree precision. • Compass with true north and magnetic north. • Magnetic declination display for converting magnetic readings to true north readings. • Gyroscope calibration for phones that do not rest perfectly flat. • Gyro or accelerometer sensor mode. • Clean interface with no popup interruptions. If you enjoy the app, leaving a review would help. An ad-free Pro version is also available, with more features including Apple Watch support, night mode, slope/inclination %, and pitch, yaw, and roll rotation rate.
Cygnus Astro
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.
- Remote equipment control
- N.I.N.A. software integration
- Mobile touch interface
- Real-time exposure preview
- Open-source and free
Read full descriptionHide full description
Cygnus Astro Get ready to do astrophotography from your mobile phone! Cygnus Astro enables astrophotographers to use a mobile touch-friendly interface to control their equipment from N.I.N.A. software. No matter if you have a laptop, or a mini PC, you can replace that complex UI with a mobile app. When in the field, you're able to connect, monitor, and control all your astrophotography equipment without worrying about a desktop interface. Turn your PC on, and forget about it! Key features: - Connect your equipment (mount, camera, electronic focuser, etc.) using a simple button - Launch and monitor your advance sequence - Perform your Three-Point Polar Alignment without having to hold your laptop - Preview your exposures in real-time - Fully open-source. This app is, and will aways be free Cygnus Astro uses N.I.N.A. PC software and the N.I.N.A. Advanced API plugin to communicate with your PC. This app is not a replacement for N.I.N.A. or your PC.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Bubble Level + Compass at 5.0 against Cygnus Astro's 4.5. Bubble Level + Compass also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 67%) and ratings volume (34 vs 2). Cygnus Astro's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Bubble Level + Compass holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bubble Level + Compass has 34 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Bubble Level + Compass's written reviews are positive against 67% of Cygnus Astro's.
Bubble Level + Compass ships an update every 4 months, Cygnus Astro every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bubble Level + Compass | Cygnus Astro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (34 ratings) — better | 4.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.5% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 34 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dimitrios Kechagias | Christopher Ventura |
Customer experience
Bubble Level + Compass
Cygnus Astro
In-app purchases
Bubble Level + Compass
No in-app purchases
Cygnus Astro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Bubble Level + Compass free?
Is Cygnus Astro free?
Which has better reviews, Bubble Level + Compass or Cygnus Astro?
Do Bubble Level + Compass or Cygnus Astro have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bubble Level + Compass or Cygnus Astro?
Other comparisons
