ScopeWizard vs Cygnus Astro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ScopeWizard
This app simplifies telescope, eyepiece, and camera calculations with a unified database of equipment. Easily mix and match your gear or input custom values for precise specifications.
- Unified formula database
- Equipment database
- Mix and match gear
- Custom value input
- Telescope specifications calculation
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There are numerous formulas for computing the specifics of your telescope, eyepieces, and camera's characteristics when used together. ScopeWizard brings those formulas together in one handy place. An included database of telescopes, eyepieces, and cameras can be used to mix and match your equipment, or you can enter custom values manually.
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
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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: ScopeWizard at 5.0 against Cygnus Astro's 4.5. Cygnus Astro's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 25 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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.
ScopeWizard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
ScopeWizard ships an update every 25 months, Cygnus Astro every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on June 21, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ScopeWizard | Cygnus Astro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 25 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Richard Wright | Christopher Ventura |
Customer experience
ScopeWizard
Cygnus Astro
In-app purchases
ScopeWizard
No in-app purchases
Cygnus Astro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ScopeWizard free?
Is Cygnus Astro free?
Which has better reviews, ScopeWizard or Cygnus Astro?
Do ScopeWizard or Cygnus Astro have ads?
Which is updated more often, ScopeWizard or Cygnus Astro?
Other comparisons
