Choosing the right stacking software for planetary astrophotography can be confusing. This guide compares the most popular options for both stacking and post-processing.
Head-to-head: AutoStakkert! vs Eise.app · Registax 6 vs Eise.app · PSS vs Eise.app
Platform guides: Planetary stacking on Mac
Planetary stacking software combines hundreds or thousands of video frames to create a single sharp image. This technique, called lucky imaging, overcomes atmospheric turbulence by selecting the best moments when the air happens to be steady. The result: detailed images of Jupiter's cloud bands, Saturn's rings, lunar craters, or sunspots.
These tools handle the core pipeline: reading video files, ranking frames by sharpness, aligning them, and combining them into a single image.
| Feature | Eise.app | AutoStakkert! | PSS | Planet Stacker X | Registax 6 | AstroSurface | PIPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | All (browser) | Windows | Win, Mac, Linux | macOS | Windows | Windows | Windows |
| Installation | None required | Download + install | Python + dependencies | App Store | Download + install | Download + install | Download + install |
| Frame analysis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Pre-processing only |
| Auto-cropping | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Per-frame centering | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Manual | Unknown | Yes |
| Local alignment (APs) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Unknown | N/A |
| Drizzle upscaling | 1.5x | 1.5x, 3x | No | 1.5x, 3x | 2x | Unknown | N/A |
| SER file support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| AVI support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MP4/MOV support | Built in | Requires user-supplied FFmpeg | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| GPU acceleration | Yes (WebGPU) | No | No | Yes (Metal) | No | No | No |
| Surface mode (Moon/Sun) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | N/A |
| Batch processing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unknown | Yes |
| Multi-% stacking | Auto 5%–90% sweep | User-defined % | No | No | No | No | N/A |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Open source | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Continuous stacking (multi-percentage in AutoStakkert!) ranks the frames of a video by sharpness, then automatically produces stacks of the best 5%, 10%, 15%, all the way up to 90%. In the post processor you flip through those stacks with the same sharpening applied to each, so you can pick the sweet spot between sharp detail and low noise instead of guessing a single frame percentage up front. No trial and error, no re-stacking to try another cutoff.
After stacking, post-processing brings out detail. These tools handle wavelet sharpening, deconvolution, color correction, and in some cases derotation.
| Feature | Eise.app | Registax 6 | LuckyStackWorker | PSS | Planet Stacker X | ImPPG | AstroSurface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | All (browser) | Windows | Win, Mac, Linux | Win, Mac, Linux | macOS | Win, Mac, Linux | Windows |
| Wavelet sharpening | Yes | Yes (6-layer) | Yes | Yes | Yes (Gaussian + Starlet) | Unsharp mask only | Yes |
| Deconvolution | Yes (Richardson-Lucy) | No | Yes (adaptive) | No | Yes (atmospheric + optical) | Yes (Richardson-Lucy) | Yes (Richardson-Lucy) |
| RGB alignment | Yes (auto) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Unknown |
| Color adjustments | Yes | Limited | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Unknown |
| Derotation | No | No | Yes (since v7) | No | No | No | No |
| Also does stacking | Yes | Yes (outdated) | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| GPU acceleration | Yes (WebGPU + WebGL) | No | No | No | Yes (Metal) | Yes (OpenGL) | No |
| 16-bit support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (up to 32-bit) | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Open source | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Some tools fill a specific niche in the planetary imaging workflow:
Eise.app is the only planetary stacking tool that runs entirely in your browser. No installation, no dependencies, works on any operating system. It provides an integrated pipeline from raw video to finished image, including wavelet sharpening, deconvolution, and RGB alignment. Ideal for beginners or anyone who wants fast results without software hassles.
The current stable release is AS!4 4.0.11 (January 2024); 4.0.13 (February 2025) is a newer beta build, and there have been no releases since. It offers the most control over alignment points and supports multiple drizzle scales. SER, AVI, FITS, and image files load natively; MP4, MOV, and HEVC video only work if you separately download FFmpeg and drop ffmpeg.exe into the AutoStakkert! folder. It only handles stacking - you'll need Registax, LuckyStackWorker, or another tool for sharpening. Windows-only (Emil has stated there are no plans for native Mac or Linux builds). See head-to-head: AutoStakkert! vs Eise.app →
PSS is an open-source Python application that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It includes built-in wavelet sharpening and RGB alignment, making it an all-in-one solution, but quite feature-light in post processing. It's powerful but requires Python installation and dependency management, which can be challenging especially on Apple Silicon Macs. See head-to-head: PSS vs Eise.app →
Planet Stacker X is a free, native macOS application available on the App Store. It offers GPU-accelerated processing on Apple Silicon, wavelet sharpening (Gaussian and Starlet), and atmospheric deconvolution. Easy to install but lacks local alignment points. Not available in the EU App Store due to regulations.
LuckyStackWorker (LSW) is a cross-platform post-processing tool that automates wavelet sharpening and deconvolution with object recognition. Since v7 (January 2026), it includes built-in derotation, making it a simpler alternative to WinJUPOS for combining captures taken over longer periods. Works on already-stacked images (TIFF, PNG, FITS), not raw video files.
Registax pioneered wavelet sharpening for planetary images and is still widely used for post-processing. Its 6-layer wavelet interface remains the most well-known in the hobby. However, its stacking capabilities are outdated compared to AutoStakkert! or PSS. Last updated in 2011 but still functional. Windows-only. See head-to-head: Registax 6 vs Eise.app →
AstroSurface aims to replace the PIPP + AutoStakkert + Registax pipeline with a single application. It handles pre-processing, stacking, and wavelet sharpening with Richardson-Lucy deconvolution. Actively developed (v4 released January 2025). Popular in the solar imaging community. Windows-only.