💡 Pick it for the deepest astrophotography toolkit and extensive control over calibration, stacking, and processing.
PixInsight is a powerful and advanced image processing software specifically designed for astrophotography.
Best Star Tools Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026
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StarTools is dedicated astrophotography image-processing software for amateur astronomers working with deep-sky and planetary images. Its standout capability is a workflow designed to preserve faint detail while controlling stars, noise, and dynamic range.
Top 6 Star Tools alternatives
💡 Pick it if you want a capable, open-source replacement that also covers calibration and stacking.
Siril is an astronomical image processing tool.
💡 Pick it for an integrated calibration, stacking, and mosaic workflow with less complexity than PixInsight.
Astro Pixel Processor is astrophotography software for calibration, registration, mosaics, stacking, and image processing. It is aimed at deep-sky imagers who want...
Pros
- Integrated stacking and processing workflow reduces reliance on multiple applications
- Particularly strong for mosaics, gradients, and data from multiple sessions
- More approachable than PixInsight for many deep-sky workflows
Cons
- Subscription or time-limited licensing can cost more over time than StarTools
- Less flexible for highly customized processing than PixInsight
- Interface is focused on astrophotography rather than general image editing
From €60/year
4
Photoshop
Adobe
💡 Pick it when layered compositing, retouching, and broad photo-editing capabilities matter more than astronomy-specific automation.
Photoshop is a professional raster image editor for photographers, designers, illustrators, and digital artists. It provides advanced layers, masking, retouching, compositing, typography,...
Pros
- Industry-standard file format and workflow compatibility
- More advanced retouching, compositing, and masking than most alternatives
- Extensive plugin, brush, and template ecosystem
Cons
- Requires a recurring subscription rather than a perpetual license
- Steeper learning curve than Photopea or Canva
- Some features require an internet connection or Adobe account
From $22.99/mo
💡 Pick it for free, polished layer-based finishing when dedicated astronomy processing is handled elsewhere.
Affinity Photo is a professional photo editing software with a wide range of features and tools.
$49.99 (one-time purchase)
💡 Pick it for a free, straightforward Windows stacking tool when you are happy to process the result elsewhere.
DeepSkyStacker is a software for astrophotography that allows users to align and stack images to reduce noise and improve image quality.
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