Tool profile
APT (Astro Photography Tool): cost, fit and limits
Astro Photography Tool (APT) is a Windows astrophotography application made by Distinct Solutions Ltd. in Sofia, Bulgaria, that controls cameras, focusers and mounts for automated imaging, sold as a low-cost single user license with a free demo.
What to know first
APT sells a full-version single user license for 18.70 EUR that can be used on multiple computers and includes one year of support and upgrades. Renewal after expiry costs 6 EUR a year, and a time-unlimited demo is free. The homepage lists automated meridian flips, automated focusing, DataCraft image transfer and native ZWO, SBIG and QHYCCD support. No AI feature is named on the pages read.
APT (Astro Photography Tool) at a glance
| Maker | Distinct Solutions Ltd. (trademark Incanus Ltd.), Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | 18.70 EUR for the full version |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Astronomy Software in 2026, rank 6 of 13 |
| Website | astrophotography.app |
Who APT (Astro Photography Tool) is best for
DSLR owners
The homepage says eight generations of Canon EOS models and most Nikon DSLRs are supported, which suits people who image with a camera body before buying a cooled one.
Budget-conscious imagers
The 18.70 EUR license and 6 EUR renewal make APT the cheapest paid capture tool in this list, and a free demo lets you test your devices.
Users of several computers
One single user license can be used on multiple computers, so a laptop and an observatory PC do not need separate purchases.
APT (Astro Photography Tool) plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Full version, single user license | 18.70 EUR | Single user license for multiple computers, with one year of support and upgrades. A key is sent by email after payment. |
| Renewal | 6 EUR per year | Access to the latest upgrades after the license has expired. Only needed if you want newer versions. |
| Demo version | Free | Time-unlimited demo to check that APT works with your devices before buying the full version. |
Checked November 2026.
What APT (Astro Photography Tool) does
- Automated meridian flip
- The homepage lists an automated meridian flip, which turns the mount over at the right moment during a long session. That avoids a manual stop partway through a long session.
- Automated focusing
- ASCOM focusers are supported with HFD, FWHM or InvPower measured by hyperbola fit, so focus is judged by numbers instead of by eye. Measuring focus with numbers is easier to repeat than judging stars by eye.
- Automated refocusing
- Refocus can be triggered by temperature, image count, time or filter change, keeping focus correct across a night. The choice of trigger lets you pick the one that matches how your equipment drifts.
- DataCraft
- A tool for automated image transfer, backup and database image indexing, which tidies the files a long session produces. That keeps the folders from a long night in order and easy to search later.
- Hardware support
- Native support covers ZWO and SBIG cameras and filter wheels and QHYCCD, and the pages name ASCOM, INDI and INDIGO as supported standards. Other devices connect through standard drivers, which is the safer route for gear not named.
How APT (Astro Photography Tool) handles your data
The purchase page says the name and email from PayPal purchases are kept in a secured database until the buyer asks for removal. The full version needs a key sent by email after payment, and the key is needed for downloads and updates. The pages read do not state a hosting region, a certification or any use of customer data for AI training. APT runs on your Windows computer, so captured frames stay local unless you transfer them yourself, for example with DataCraft.
Where APT (Astro Photography Tool) falls short in practice
- Windows only. The homepage lists Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11, with no macOS or Linux version named, so Mac and Linux owners need another tool.
- Key-based updates. After payment a key arrives by email, and that key is needed for downloads and updates, so a lost key means asking the vendor. Keep the email with the key somewhere safe.
- Renewal for upgrades. Once the license expires you must renew only to get the latest upgrades. Without renewal you stay on the version you have. This is the only reason to pay the yearly fee.
Works with
Alternatives to APT (Astro Photography Tool)
APT (Astro Photography Tool): common questions
How much does APT cost?
As of November 2026 the full version single user license costs 18.70 EUR and includes one year of support and upgrades. After that, renewal is 6 EUR per year to keep receiving the latest upgrades. A demo version is free with no time limit.
Is there a free version of APT?
There is a free demo with no time limit, meant to check that APT works with your devices. The full version needs a license key that is sent by email after payment. The key is needed for downloads and updates of the full version.
Does APT run on Mac or Linux?
The homepage lists Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11. No macOS or Linux version is named on the pages we read, though the program supports ASCOM, INDI and INDIGO hardware standards. Check the download page for the current builds.
Which cameras does APT support?
The homepage names native support for ZWO and SBIG cameras and filter wheels and QHYCCD, eight generations of Canon EOS models and most Nikon DSLRs. Other devices can connect through ASCOM, and the free demo lets you verify before paying.
Does APT use AI?
The pages we read name no AI feature. Automation comes from classic functions such as automated meridian flips and automated focusing using HFD, FWHM or InvPower via hyperbola fit. For a tool that names AI, see Voyager or StellarMate. Both are vendor descriptions.