Comparison

Moon stat vs Mooncaster

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Moon stat

This app helps you find the best times for stargazing by indicating when the moon's light is minimal. It also shows the current moon phase across different time zones and global locations.

Highlights
  • 5-star rating for optimal stargazing
  • Moonlight intensity indicator
  • Moon phase tracking
  • Global time zone support
  • Daytime visualization
Features
Read full description

Navigate the sky with a 5 star rating system that tells you when the stars are at their best. In fact, the moon is so bright. When star gazing it's important to aim for a time when there is little moonlight. I made this application because I myself wanted a simple way to find out the best time to watch the stars and this kind of application was yet to be made. You can also see what at what stage the moon is in its cycle in various time zones and various parts of the world. (The white part of the round time chart represents daytime)

About

Mooncaster

This app predicts promising moonrise viewing opportunities by combining lunar data with local weather forecasts. It provides scores and alerts to help you plan the best time and place to observe the moon.

Highlights
  • Curated list of promising moonrises
  • Astronomy and weather scoring
  • Customizable alerts
  • Interactive direction map
  • Home Screen Widget
  • 45-day lunar outlooks
Features
Read full description

Know when a moonrise is truly worth heading outside for. Mooncaster goes beyond moonrise times. It combines precise lunar geometry with local Apple Weather forecasts to show how promising the view may be, when to be ready, and where to look. Whether you’re planning a photograph, choosing a viewpoint, or simply hoping to catch a beautiful Moon near the horizon, Mooncaster turns complex astronomy and weather data into a clear plan. FIND THE BEST MOONRISES • Browse a curated list of astronomically promising moonrises • See every upcoming visible moonrise or build your own custom view • Filter by illumination, cloud cover, visibility, and timing near sunset •View today's moonrise or moonset in a Home Screen Widget. PLAN WITH SCORES YOU CAN UNDERSTAND • Astronomy Score rates illumination, timing, and the Moon’s near-horizon climb • Weather Score considers cloud cover and visibility during the viewing window • Moonrise Score brings astronomy and weather together in one 0–100 rating • Forecast confidence—High, Medium, Low, or Pending—shows how much trust to place in the current outlook KNOW WHEN AND WHERE TO LOOK • View moonrise and moonset times, phase, illumination, direction, and compass bearing • See how quickly the Moon climbs and follow its arc across the sky • Use an interactive direction map to fine-tune your viewing position STAY AHEAD OF CHANGING WEATHER • Check conditions focused on the moonrise viewing window—not just a generic daily forecast • Review cloud cover, visibility, and recent forecast trends • Refresh on demand; Mooncaster also updates weather and alerts in the background when iOS allows GET THE RIGHT ALERT AT THE RIGHT TIME Auto Mode watches your Best Moonrises and schedules alerts only when an astronomically promising event receives a favorable, reliable forecast. You can also set manual alerts for any moonrise you choose. Pick from the morning of the event, 6 hours, 1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes before, or right at moonrise. EXPLORE MORE WITH MOONRISE PRO Mooncaster includes a complimentary seven-day preview of every feature. The preview does not automatically start a subscription, and a limited one-location view remains available afterward. Moonrise Pro unlocks: • Unlimited saved locations • Complete 45-day lunar outlooks, with weather added as forecast data becomes available • Full upcoming moonrise lists and detailed forecasts • Interactive direction maps • Automatic and custom scheduled alerts Choose monthly or annual access, or make a one-time lifetime purchase. Monthly and annual subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Forecasts and scores are planning aids, not guarantees. Terrain, buildings, haze, and other local obstructions may affect what you see. Weather data is provided by Apple Weather. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.catspaw-systems.com/PrivacyPolicies/MooncasterPrivacy.html

Screenshots

Moon stat4 screens
Mooncaster4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mooncaster at 100% against Moon stat's 0%. Mooncaster also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Moon stat's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Moon stat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Mooncaster sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Moon stat ships an update every 3 weeks, Mooncaster every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Moon stat versus Mooncaster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMoon statMooncaster
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmallnetwork.IncCatspaw Systems LLC

Customer experience

Moon stat

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Mooncaster

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Moon stat

One-time1
  • Moon stat upgrade$1.99
3 purchases

Mooncaster

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Mooncaster Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Mooncaster Annual Subscription$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Mooncaster Lifetime Access$14.99

Questions

Is Moon stat free?
Moon stat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mooncaster free?
Mooncaster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Moon stat or Mooncaster have ads?
Neither Moon stat nor Mooncaster shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Moon stat or Mooncaster?
Moon stat ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mooncaster every 5 days. Most recently, Moon stat was updated on November 2, 2026 and Mooncaster on November 1, 2026.

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