Star Stacker is a photo and video utility for iOS that processes sequences of night-sky images into star trails and time-lapse videos.
Product velocity
Dormant
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#56
▼9Photo & Video · paid
Sentiment
4.3
94 reviews
Nemesis
Slow Shutter Cam
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Users hire the app to automate complex long-exposure stacking that typically requires desktop software, allowing for mobile-first astrophotography workflows.
For Astrophotographers and hobbyists looking to process night sky image sequences into star trails or time-lapse videos on mobile devices.
What does it look like?
Key features
Combines multiple night sky photos into a single composite image using various trail effects like full, faded, shooting star, or javelin.
Converts sequences of star photos or imported time-lapse videos into a video file based on selected stacking effects.
How much does it cost?
Paid model anchored at $3.99, providing full access to all stacking and video generation features without recurring costs.
Velocity
Dormant developmentnew contentUX improvementsShow more...
The app has not received a new build in over 10 months, indicating a lack of active development. The most recent update provided a significant feature set including time-lapse video imports and a design refresh, but there has been no subsequent activity. Given the absence of releases since July 2025, the development status is classified as zombie.
Who built it?
michael webb
5 apps tracked · Photo & Video
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Easy Mortgage CalculatorUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads mixed. Users appreciate astrophotography enthusiasts value the ability to stack hundreds of raw images into star trails and simple interface design allows amateur photographers to produce high quality results without complex software.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Astrophotography enthusiasts value the ability to stack hundreds of raw images into star trails
- Simple interface design allows amateur photographers to produce high quality results without complex software
- Frequent application crashes during the image rendering process prevent users from completing their projects
28 of 28 recent reviews analyzed · moderate confidence · Mixed overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 more frustration theme and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Star Stacker
How's the Photo & Video market?
Star Stacker occupies a niche segment of the Photo & Video category, currently ranking #91 Paid in the US. The lack of a subscription model limits the revenue velocity needed to compete with the broader feature sets of market leaders like Slow Shutter Cam.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Cogitap Software
This is the market leader for long-exposure photography on iOS, directly overlapping with Star Stacker's core functionality of capturing light trails.
- Offers specialized light trail, motion blur, and low light modes beyond simple star stacking
- Provides real-time live preview of the long exposure effect while the image is being captured
- Includes manual shutter speed and ISO controls that allow for more precise creative light manipulation
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Star Stacker
Where is it heading?
The astrophotography utility market is consolidating around tools that offer both stability and advanced editing, leaving Star Stacker exposed. Unless the rendering pipeline is stabilized, the app will continue to lose ground to more reliable competitors, so the PM must shift focus from feature expansion to core reliability.
- Frequent rendering crashes during batch processing erode user trust, which compounds the negative sentiment already visible in recent reviews.
- Recent updates focused on design and video import, but the lack of stability improvements leaves the core rendering engine vulnerable.
The SWOT
- Specialized stacking algorithms for faded and shooting star trails
- Accessible interface design for non-professional photographers
- B2B partnership potential with astrophotography workshops
- Integration with native iOS Files app for raw batch management
Next best moves
Rebuild rendering pipeline to handle large image batches because crash reports are the #1 churn driver → increase session completion rate
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
Users report: The app's #91 rank is a deceptive metric…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Real-time light trail preview (available in Slow Shutter Cam but missing here) +1
Since the last report: The app has entered a zombie development state with no updates for 10 months, leading to a decline in user confidence and a more defensive competitive outlook.
Bottom line
Star Stacker provides a unique utility for astrophotography enthusiasts, but frequent rendering crashes during batch processing threaten its long-term viability, so the team must prioritize stability over new features to prevent churn.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Star Stacker good for professional astrophotography?
How does Star Stacker compare to Slow Shutter Cam?
Does Star Stacker work with large batches of photos?
Report last updated