AstroOcular vs Microscope App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AstroOcular
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AstroOcular is a focused camera app for recording the Moon, planets, and observations through a telescope eyepiece. The app opens straight into the camera, avoids automatic lens switching by using physical rear cameras when available, and provides a visual guide to help center the iPhone on the eyepiece. Key features: - Photo and video capture through a telescope eyepiece - Physical rear lens selection - Automatic alignment guide and manual reticle fallback - Timer to reduce shake - Pro controls for zoom, focus, exposure, ISO, white balance, resolution, and FPS - Saves locally to the Photos library - No ads, analytics, purchases, or backend Video audio is off by default and microphone permission is requested only if you enable audio.
Microscope App
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Use your iPhone with a compatible microscope eyepiece adapter to view, align, photograph, and record what your microscope sees. Microscope App provides a clean live camera view designed for imaging through a physical microscope. Get clear setup guidance for your iPhone model, align the rear 1× Main camera with the eyepiece, and start viewing. VIEW AND ALIGN • Clean live view through your microscope • Guidance for positioning the iPhone’s 1× Main camera • Minimal center marker for precise alignment • Zoom and tap to focus CAPTURE PHOTOS AND VIDEO • Take native photos and record video through the eyepiece • Save captures to a dedicated Microscope album in Photos • Preview and share using familiar iPhone tools PRECISION CONTROLS WITH PRO • Fine-tune focus and exposure • Adjust color temperature and tint on supported cameras • Customize the center marker’s visibility, color, and opacity • Choose additional supported photo resolutions and video quality profiles PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No ads • No account • No analytics SDK or tracking • Microscope App never uploads camera frames or captures • Saved media follows your Photos and Apple sync settings WHAT YOU NEED A physical microscope and compatible iPhone eyepiece adapter are required. Microscope App uses the iPhone’s built-in rear 1× Main camera. It does not connect to Wi-Fi or USB microscopes. Use Microscope App for specimens, classroom demonstrations, electronics inspection, gems, collectibles, and hobby imaging. Microscope App is an observation and imaging utility. It is not a medical diagnostic or calibrated measurement tool. Free includes live viewing, zoom, tap to focus, photo and video capture, and a fixed center marker. Pro is available as a monthly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Both options unlock the same Pro features. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sahilsatralkar.com/apps/microscope/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AstroOcular at none against Microscope App's 2. AstroOcular also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Microscope App's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads 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. Microscope App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. AstroOcular asks for nothing beyond the download.
AstroOcular ships an update every 5 weeks, Microscope App weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AstroOcular | Microscope App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aron Scolaro | Priya Satralkar |
In-app purchases
AstroOcular
No in-app purchases
Microscope App
- Monthly Pro$1.991 Month
- Lifetime Pro$9.99





