# Northern Lights Alert vs Step's Aurora Guide

The clearest difference is rating: Step's Aurora Guide at 4.5 against Northern Lights Alert's 3.6. Step's Aurora Guide also leads on ratings volume (117 vs 9) and chart position (#93 vs unranked). Northern Lights Alert's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (35% vs 14%). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step's Aurora Guide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Northern Lights Alert asks for nothing beyond the download.

Step's Aurora Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step's Aurora Guide has 117 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 35% of Northern Lights Alert's written reviews are positive against 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Northern Lights Alert ships an update every 9 days, Step's Aurora Guide every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Northern Lights Alert | Step's Aurora Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northern-lights-alert/id1133418799/reviews) | **[4.5 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **117** |
| Positive reviews | **35.0% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#93** |
| Size | 40 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jari Ketola](https://appshunter.io/developer/959375785) | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) |

## What reviewers say

### Northern Lights Alert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northern-lights-alert/id1133418799)

Get real-time alerts when the Northern Lights are visible. This service uses dedicated aurora cameras to monitor the sky and notify you when conditions are right. A login key from a participating accommodation or travel agency is required to receive alerts.

**Highlights:** Real-time aurora camera monitoring, Instant visibility alerts, Login key system, Map of service availability, List of participating resorts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Step's Aurora Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757)

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Grossing · Weather, #187 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides aurora forecasts, alerts, and expert photography advice. It helps users plan and capture stunning aurora images with real-time data, geomagnetic forecasts, and personalized guidance.

**Highlights:** 27-day geomagnetic activity forecast, Moon phase and darkness alignment, Real-time aurora probability, Hour-by-hour weather updates, Expert photography advice, Custom location comparison

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alerts, Forecast & Guide | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Alerts, Forecast & Guide | $6.99 | per month |
| Alerts, Forecast & Guide | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Northern Lights Alert free?

Northern Lights Alert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Step's Aurora Guide free?

Step's Aurora Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Northern Lights Alert or Step's Aurora Guide?

Step's Aurora Guide is rated higher. Northern Lights Alert averages 3.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.5 from 117 ratings.

### Do Northern Lights Alert or Step's Aurora Guide have ads?

Neither Northern Lights Alert nor Step's Aurora Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Northern Lights Alert or Step's Aurora Guide?

Northern Lights Alert ships an update every 9 days, and Step's Aurora Guide every 3 weeks. Most recently, Northern Lights Alert was updated on November 6, 2026 and Step's Aurora Guide on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*