# NightCap Camera vs AstroShader

The clearest difference is ratings volume: NightCap Camera at 3K against AstroShader's 120. NightCap Camera also leads on device support (3 vs 1). AstroShader's advantage is review sentiment (62% vs 51%) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

NightCap Camera costs $2.99 and AstroShader $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for NightCap Camera against 4.3 for AstroShader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NightCap Camera has 3K ratings behind it against 120, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of NightCap Camera's written reviews are positive against 62% of AstroShader's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NightCap Camera | AstroShader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightcap-camera-long-exposure/id754105884/reviews)** | [4.3 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroshader/id6444631986/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 120 |
| Positive reviews | 50.8% of reviews | **62.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#16** | #19 |
| Size | 10 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **18.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804158489) | [AstroShader Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655754202) |

## What reviewers say

### NightCap Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightcap-camera-long-exposure/id754105884)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Paid · Photo & Video, #146 Top Paid (US App Store)

Capture stunning low-light and night photos and videos with advanced features like long exposure, AI-powered controls, and specialized astrophotography modes. Achieve DSLR-like results and unlock your device's full potential in challenging lighting conditions.

**Highlights:** Low light and night photo/video capture, Long exposure and motion blur effects, Astrophotography modes (stars, aurora, ISS, meteors), AI camera control for automatic settings, Manual gesture-based adjustments, 4K time lapse recording, ISO Boost for brighter low-light shots

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for astrophotography
- 👍 Excellent night/low light photography
- 💡 Powerful manual controls
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Produces high-quality results

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes on newer devices
- 🐛 Focus issues on iPhone 7+
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 👎 Unintuitive user interface
- 👎 Disappointing results for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Photos not saving properly
- Meteor mode not working as expected
- Compatibility issues with iOS 8 and iPhone 6 Plus

**Requested features**

- RAW image support
- Bluetooth remote shutter control
- Ability to save settings
- More exposure options
- Improved timelapse features


### AstroShader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astroshader/id6444631986)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Paid · Photo & Video, #167 Top Paid (US App Store)

Capture, stack, and edit stunning astrophotography directly on your mobile device. This app streamlines the process by aligning and stacking images live during capture, eliminating the need for external software. Fine-tune your celestial images with a comprehensive suite of editing tools.

**Highlights:** Live image alignment and stacking, Manual focus control, Adjustable exposure, ISO, and white balance, Intervalometer for timed captures, Advanced image editing tools, Save in multiple formats including TIFF

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NightCap Camera free?

NightCap Camera costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AstroShader free?

AstroShader costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NightCap Camera or AstroShader?

NightCap Camera is rated higher. NightCap Camera averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while AstroShader averages 4.3 from 120 ratings.

### Do NightCap Camera or AstroShader have ads?

Neither NightCap Camera nor AstroShader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NightCap Camera or AstroShader?

NightCap Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, and AstroShader every 3 weeks. Most recently, NightCap Camera was updated on October 26, 2026 and AstroShader on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, NightCap Camera or AstroShader?

NightCap Camera currently peaks at #16 in the App Store charts, and AstroShader at #19. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*