Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PixInsight VS SharpCap

Compare PixInsight VS SharpCap and see what are their differences

PixInsight logo PixInsight

A powerful deep sky stacking application for astrophotography.

SharpCap logo SharpCap

SharpCap is an easy-to-use and powerful astronomy camera capture tool. It can be used with dedicated astronomy cameras, webcams and USB frame grabbers.
  • PixInsight Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-28
  • SharpCap Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-11

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.

SharpCap features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    SharpCap offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it accessible for beginners while still providing advanced features for experienced users.
  • Real-Time Stacking
    The software allows for real-time stacking of images, which helps improve the signal-to-noise ratio for astrophotography, enhancing image quality significantly.
  • Polar Alignment Tool
    SharpCap includes a polar alignment tool that assists in aligning the telescope polar axis accurately, which is crucial for long-exposure astrophotography.
  • Compatibility
    It supports a wide range of cameras, including major brands and models, making it versatile for users with different equipment setups.
  • Live View and Recording
    The software provides live view and recording capabilities, enabling users to capture detailed astronomical events in real time.

Possible disadvantages of SharpCap

  • Windows Only
    SharpCap is only compatible with the Windows operating system, limiting users who prefer or use macOS or Linux systems.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, mastering all the advanced features and settings can take some time and experimentation for beginners.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of SharpCap has limited features compared to the Pro version, which requires a paid upgrade to access its full capabilities.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software can be resource-intensive during processing, requiring a relatively powerful computer to run smoothly, especially when handling large datasets.
  • Need for Additional Equipment
    For optimal use, SharpCap often requires additional equipment, such as guide cameras and mounts, which can add to the overall cost.

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

SharpCap videos

SharpCap Sensor Analysis - How to!

More videos:

  • Review - Using SharpCap to Capture the Planets
  • Review - Jupiter Captured with ZWO ASI224MC Camera and SharpCap (Tutorial)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PixInsight and SharpCap)
Time Tracking
66 66%
34% 34
Invoicing
60 60%
40% 40
Accounting
53 53%
47% 47
Photos & Graphics
85 85%
15% 15

User comments

Share your experience with using PixInsight and SharpCap. 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.

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: over 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

SharpCap mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SharpCap yet. Tracking of SharpCap recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PixInsight and SharpCap, you can also consider the following products

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

N.I.N.A. - NINA is a night time imaging and astronomy software.

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

Voyager Astrophotography - Voyager is a multi core optimized software, resilient, with advanced built-in algorithms and advanced A.I. driven automatation for astro photography.

RegiStax - Photography, Astronomy, Image, and Astrophotography

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