Comparison

INDIGO Control Panel vs Astraea

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

INDIGO Control Panel

This application offers a streamlined interface for managing servers and configuring serial ports. It provides direct access to agent properties for a focused operational experience, without including a built-in server or agent-specific panels.

Highlights
  • Server management
  • Serial port configuration
  • Direct agent property view
  • Streamlined interface
  • Cross-platform compatibility
Features
Read full description

INDIGO Control Panel gives you direct access to your astronomy equipment from your iPhone or iPad. Connect to INDIGO servers, explore connected devices, and adjust their settings through a native macOS interface. Whether you are setting up your equipment, checking device status, or troubleshooting a connection, INDIGO Control Panel brings the properties exposed by your INDIGO drivers and agents into one place. โ€ข Discover INDIGO servers on your local network or add connections manually. โ€ข Control INDIGO-compatible cameras, telescope mounts, focusers, filter wheels, rotators, and other astronomy devices. โ€ข Browse and edit device properties, including settings beyond the controls offered by dedicated imaging applications. โ€ข View image previews and download image data. โ€ข Manage server and device configurations. โ€ข Monitor and export diagnostic logs. โ€ข Customize navigation and hide non-essential properties to keep your workspace focused. Version 6 introduces redesigned navigation and property controls, improved connection and reconnection handling, and better performance when displaying large property lists. INDIGO Control Panel is a client for the INDIGO astronomy framework. It requires an accessible INDIGO server and compatible device drivers. Available controls depend on the connected devices and the properties they expose. Requires macOS 17.6 or later.

About

Astraea

Features
Read full description

Learn astronomy by exploring. Observe the stars, test your intuition and discover what explains what you see. Astraea connects astronomy, history and mythology through interactive lessons, maps and challenges that help you understand the universe. No previous knowledge needed. Observe, think and discover Explore constellation maps, make a prediction and reveal its explanation. Each activity invites you to connect ideas and understand them. A contextual glossary helps with the words you encounter. History, mythology and the science of the sky Discover stars, planets and galaxies, and learn how people have observed, named and studied the sky. Explore myths, stories and traditions from different cultures. Scientific explanations and traditions are presented in their own context. Four new regions explore the solar system's past, space travel, cosmic images and the skies of Japan. Keep your discoveries Unlock 19 collectibles connected to what you learn. Explore their details, find out what each piece represents and choose a favorite for your profile. Customize your rocket and follow your journey with streaks and achievements. A question for every day Open the journal, discover an idea and try the daily quiz. Widgets bring part of the sky to your Home Screen. Return to the Atlas to explore its maps. Return to what you want to understand The Observatory brings together review and learning tools. One review session is available free each day. Premium expands access and adds tools to track and revisit your learning; see the available benefits in the app. Available in English and Spanish. The app contains ads and optional subscriptions. Prices, billing periods and the terms of any eligible offer are shown before purchase. Manage your subscription through the relevant store. Privacy Policy: https://astraea-app.com/privacy-en Terms and Conditions: https://astraea-app.com/terms-en Title: Astraea Premium Monthly. Duration: 1 month. Price: 3.99 USD. Title: Astraea Premium Annual. Duration: 1 year. Price: 39.99 USD.

Screenshots

INDIGO Control Panel4 screens
Astraea4 screens

Verdict

The call

INDIGO Control Panel and Astraea are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters โ€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them โ€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. INDIGO Control Panel sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Astraea sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

INDIGO Control Panel ships an update every 3 weeks, Astraea fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
INDIGO Control Panel versus Astraea: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterINDIGO Control PanelAstraea
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews0.0% of reviewsโ€”
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreeโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size27 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCloudMakers, s. r. o.Jose Carlos Villarreal

In-app purchases

3 purchases

INDIGO Control Panel

One-time3
  • All features upgradeFree
  • All features 14-day trialFree
  • All features$9.99
2 purchases

Astraea

Subscriptions2
  • Astraea Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Astraea Premium Annual$39.991 Year

Questions

Is INDIGO Control Panel free?
INDIGO Control Panel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Astraea free?
Astraea is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do INDIGO Control Panel or Astraea have ads?
Neither INDIGO Control Panel nor Astraea shows ads.
Which is updated more often, INDIGO Control Panel or Astraea?
INDIGO Control Panel ships an update every 3 weeks, and Astraea fortnightly. Most recently, INDIGO Control Panel was updated on November 1, 2026 and Astraea on October 31, 2026.

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