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Aladin Desktop vs TOPCAT: catalog facts
Aladin Desktop	TOPCAT
Free Free download from the CDS; the source code is also published.	Free Free to download.
macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Access to over 20,000 survey and catalogue collections Direct links to Simbad, VizieR and other archives	Handles FITS, VOTable, CDF, CSV and Parquet Interactive exploration of large tables
Aimed at astronomers, with a steep learning curve for casual users Most features depend on online data services	Interface and features are oriented toward astronomy Requires Java
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.