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

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