# DWARFLAB vs StarryLens

The clearest difference is rating: StarryLens at 4.2 against DWARFLAB's 3.5. DWARFLAB's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StarryLens sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. DWARFLAB asks for nothing beyond the download.

StarryLens holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 145 and 134 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of DWARFLAB's written reviews are positive against 39% of StarryLens's.

DWARFLAB ships an update every 5 weeks, StarryLens every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | DWARFLAB | StarryLens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (145 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dwarflab/id1667394131/reviews) | **[4.2 (134 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starrylens-night-sky-camera/id6448165469/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **145** | 134 |
| Positive reviews | 36.0% of reviews | **39.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 219 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tinyphoton (Wuhan) Technology. Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1470898020) | [Yuanye Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683766097) |

## What reviewers say

### DWARFLAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dwarflab/id1667394131)

This app connects wirelessly to a smart telescope, offering intuitive control for capturing stunning images of the night sky and dynamic terrestrial scenes. It features automatic tracking, in-app image processing, and panorama creation for both astrophotography and everyday use.

**Highlights:** Wireless telescope connection, In-built star atlas for astrophotography, Automatic celestial and motion tracking, In-app image stacking and post-processing, Gigapixel panorama creation, Time-lapse photography

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📸 High-quality astrophotography results
- 💰 Excellent value for price
- 🎯 Intuitive sky atlas and target selection
- 🔄 Frequent app updates and improvements
- ⚡ Responsive developer team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 Persistent WiFi connectivity issues
- ⏱️ Slow connection establishment (15-30 minutes)
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 📉 Tracking frame drops (25% loss reported)
- 🔄 Connection drops after minutes

**Reported bugs**

- WiFi connection fails repeatedly or drops within seconds
- App crashes on iOS 18 and older iOS versions
- Account creation security verification fails
- Full-screen mode freezes with no escape option
- Autofocus produces inconsistent or blurry results

**Requested features**

- One-tap return to home and power off function
- Panorama/mosaic image merging capability
- Comet-aligned tracking mode
- Dew control for iOS (available on Android)
- iPad-optimized app version


### StarryLens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starrylens-night-sky-camera/id6448165469)

Capture breathtaking night sky photos with advanced AI and specialized modes for star-filled skies and cityscapes. Enhance low-light images, reduce noise, and achieve sharp results even without a tripod. Offers HDR fusion and a user-friendly interface for all skill levels.

**Highlights:** AI-enhanced low-light photography, Star Mode for clear starry skies, City Mode for urban night scenes, HDR fusion for balanced exposure, Advanced image stabilization, Powerful noise reduction, Customizable shooting parameters

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Early Subscription(Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Early Subscription(Annual) | $14.99 | per year |
| Special Offer(Annual) | $14.99 | per year |
| Remove watermarks | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DWARFLAB free?

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

### Is StarryLens free?

StarryLens is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, DWARFLAB or StarryLens?

StarryLens is rated higher. DWARFLAB averages 3.5 out of 5 from 145 ratings, while StarryLens averages 4.2 from 134 ratings.

### Do DWARFLAB or StarryLens have ads?

Neither DWARFLAB nor StarryLens shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DWARFLAB or StarryLens?

DWARFLAB ships an update every 5 weeks, and StarryLens every 3 weeks. Most recently, DWARFLAB was updated on October 30, 2026 and StarryLens on October 30, 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.*