# QUARCS vs Cygnus Astro

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cygnus Astro at 67% against QUARCS's 0%. Cygnus Astro also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of QUARCS's written reviews are positive against 67% of Cygnus Astro's.

QUARCS ships an update every 6 months, Cygnus Astro every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QUARCS | Cygnus Astro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quarcs/id6479396546/reviews) | **[4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cygnus-astro/id6745795760/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 30 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Light Speed Vision(Beijing) Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1511662353) | [Christopher Ventura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1742045592) |

## What reviewers say

### QUARCS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quarcs/id6479396546)

This open-source software kit enables remote astrophotography capture via Wi-Fi and computer. It offers comprehensive control over telescope mounts, cameras, autoguiding, and electric focusers, integrating with Stellarium for sky mapping.

**Highlights:** Remote capture via Wi-Fi, Computer remote capture via LAN, Mount control, Camera control, Autoguiding, Electric focuser control, Stellarium skymap integration

**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 QUARCS free?

QUARCS 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, QUARCS or Cygnus Astro?

Cygnus Astro is rated higher. QUARCS averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Cygnus Astro averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do QUARCS or Cygnus Astro have ads?

Neither QUARCS nor Cygnus Astro shows ads.

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

QUARCS ships an update every 6 months, and Cygnus Astro every 5 days. Most recently, QUARCS was updated on October 6, 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.*