Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Astro Pixel Processor VS PixInsight

Compare Astro Pixel Processor VS PixInsight and see what are their differences

Astro Pixel Processor logo Astro Pixel Processor

Astro Pixel Processor is a deep sky image processing software.

PixInsight logo PixInsight

A powerful deep sky stacking application for astrophotography.
  • Astro Pixel Processor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02
  • PixInsight Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-28

Astro Pixel Processor features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Astro Pixel Processor (APP) offers a user-friendly interface that is approachable for beginners, with straightforward workflows and tooltips that make complex processes easier to understand.
  • Comprehensive Features
    APP provides a wide range of features including stacking, calibration, normalization, and integration, which cater to a variety of astrophotography processing needs.
  • Advanced Algorithms
    The software uses advanced algorithms for tasks such as star alignment and background calibration, ensuring high-quality image processing results.
  • Multi-Band Support
    APP supports multi-channel processing, such as Ha, OIII, and SII data, with options for compositing and extracting different regions of interest from the data.
  • Regular Updates
    The software is actively maintained with regular updates and improvements based on user feedback, helping to keep it compatible with the latest technologies and astrophotography techniques.

Possible disadvantages of Astro Pixel Processor

  • Price
    Astro Pixel Processor is a paid software, which might be a barrier for hobbyists or beginners who are not willing to invest heavily in their software tools upfront.
  • Performance Demands
    The software can be resource-intensive, requiring a relatively powerful computer with substantial RAM and processing power for smooth operation, especially with large datasets.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly design, there is still a learning curve involved in mastering all of its features and settings, which might be challenging for complete beginners.
  • No Native MacOS Version
    As of the latest updates, there is no native MacOS version, requiring Mac users to run it through a compatibility layer, which could affect performance or user experience.
  • Limited Customization
    Some advanced users may find the customization options somewhat limited compared to more specialized or script-based tools, potentially constraining complex editing processes.

PixInsight features and specs

  • Advanced Image Processing
    PixInsight offers advanced tools and algorithms specifically designed for astrophotography, allowing users to achieve high-quality processing results.
  • Customizable Workspace
    The software provides a flexible and customizable user interface, enabling users to organize and optimize their workflow according to personal preferences.
  • Modular Architecture
    PixInsight is highly modular, allowing users to add or remove functionalities via scripts and modules, adapting the software to specific needs or updates.
  • Extensive Documentation and Tutorials
    Users have access to comprehensive documentation and a wide range of tutorials, helping both beginners and advanced users to understand and utilize the software effectively.
  • Community Support
    PixInsight has a strong community of users and professionals who offer support, share techniques, and contribute to continuous development and improvement.

Possible disadvantages of PixInsight

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software's advanced capabilities and specialized focus can make it challenging for beginners to learn and use effectively.
  • High Cost
    PixInsight can be expensive compared to other image processing software, which might be a barrier for hobbyists or those with tight budgets.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software requires significant computing power and resources to function optimally, which might necessitate hardware upgrades for some users.
  • Complex Interface
    Despite its customizability, the interface can appear complex and overwhelming, particularly for users who are new to astrophotography image processing.
  • Limited Non-Astrophotography Use
    Since PixInsight is specialized for astrophotography, it lacks the broader functionality found in more general image editing software, limiting its use for other photo editing tasks.

Astro Pixel Processor videos

Astro Pixel Processor - basic image editing

PixInsight videos

Stacking Shootout - Pixinsight vs DSS vs Nebulosity. Also Cybertruck.

More videos:

  • Review - Explaining PixInsight #1 | OSC Workflow | Pre-Processing
  • Review - DeepSkyStacker vs. PixInsight Stacking

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Astro Pixel Processor and PixInsight)
Time Tracking
19 19%
81% 81
Invoicing
21 21%
79% 79
Photos & Graphics
26 26%
74% 74
Accounting
15 15%
85% 85

User comments

Share your experience with using Astro Pixel Processor and PixInsight. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PixInsight seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Astro Pixel Processor mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Astro Pixel Processor yet. Tracking of Astro Pixel Processor recommendations started around Oct 2021.

PixInsight mentions (8)

  • When it comes to software what do you use and can you go a little bit into detail on how to use it
    PixInsight - Stacking and image processing. It's pricey but really the best processing software out there for deep sky pics imo (DeepSkyStacker / Siril / GIMP are commonly used free alternatives). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Asahi Ubuntu: does it support PixInSight and Gimp?
    Dear friends of Asahi, I was planning to get a laptop mainly for astrophotography postproduction while traveling, and other normal tasks. Apps required for astrophoto elaboration are just 2: PixInSight and Gimp. An M1 cored MacBook seem a very good machine but I really dislike macOS. I was wondering before spending time and money looking for suitable offer from refurbished market if Asahi Linux should run both... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • The Horsehead Nebula from my front yard
    Subs were calibrated and integrated for each filter using SiriL. In PixInsight I started by cropping the three stacked images, used automatic background extraction, and then combined the three into a colour image. BlurXTerminator on the combined image and StarNet v2 to separate the stars.. Separate multi scale linear transform on starless and luminance, more aggressive on the starless image. Unsharpmask applied to... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Files for the NGC 3132 Nebula
    PixInsight (costs money and I haven't tried a free trial). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • North America Nebula, NGC 7000
    PixInsight; stacking, calibration, noise reduction. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Astro Pixel Processor and PixInsight, you can also consider the following products

RegiStax - Photography, Astronomy, Image, and Astrophotography

Siril - Siril is an astronomical image processing tool, able to convert, pre-process images, help aligning...

DeepSkyStacker - DeepSkyStacker is a freeware for astrophotographers that simplifies all the pre-processing steps of...

Capture One Pro - The professionals’ choice in RAW image editing software with support for more than 500 cameras. Get started with Capture One today with a 30-day free trial.

APT (Astro Photography Tool) - APT stands for "AstroPhotography Tool" and it is like Swiss army knife for your astro imaging sessions.

Star Tools - Star Tools is one of the most advanced image processing tools that you can use for astrophotography.