# PicoStar vs AstroPup View

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AstroPup View at none against PicoStar's 1. AstroPup View also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). PicoStar's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PicoStar sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AstroPup View asks for nothing beyond the download.

PicoStar ships an update every 7 months, AstroPup View every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PicoStar | AstroPup View |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropup-view/id6752028730/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 16 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ryan Rudes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1698870132) | [Aaron Freimark](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533614349) |

## What reviewers say

### PicoStar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picostar/id6444901007)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Planetary Expansion Pack | $9.99 | one-time |


### AstroPup View

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astropup-view/id6752028730)

Easily manage and view astronomical image files like FITS and XISF. Offers GPU-accelerated rendering, automatic stretching, and QuickLook integration for a seamless user experience. Create icons and display smart metadata directly from your files.

**Highlights:** FITS and XISF format support, GPU-accelerated rendering, Automatic advanced stretching, QuickLook integration, Icon creation, Smart metadata display

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PicoStar free?

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

### Is AstroPup View free?

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

### Do PicoStar or AstroPup View have ads?

Neither PicoStar nor AstroPup View shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PicoStar or AstroPup View?

PicoStar ships an update every 7 months, and AstroPup View every 2 weeks. Most recently, PicoStar was updated on October 18, 2026 and AstroPup View on September 29, 2026.

---

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