# Astrospheric vs SpaceWeatherLive

The clearest difference is rating: Astrospheric at 4.8 against SpaceWeatherLive's 4.0. Astrospheric also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (88% vs 54%). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Astrospheric sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and SpaceWeatherLive sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Astrospheric holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 453 and 189 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Astrospheric's written reviews are positive against 54% of SpaceWeatherLive's.

Astrospheric ships an update every 3 weeks, SpaceWeatherLive every 4 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astrospheric | SpaceWeatherLive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (453 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrospheric/id1166046863/reviews)** | [4.0 (189 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceweatherlive/id1435501021/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **453** | 189 |
| Positive reviews | **87.7% of reviews** | 53.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#85** | #172 |
| Size | 47 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Fiordalis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166046862) | [Parsec vzw](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435501020) |

## What reviewers say

### Astrospheric

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrospheric/id1166046863)

**Currently charting:** #85 Top Grossing · Weather, #160 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app offers advanced weather forecasting and astronomical data for stargazers and astrophotographers. It provides detailed hourly forecasts, cloud and sky transparency reports, and alerts for celestial events. It also includes tools for astronomical societies and offline site setup.

**Highlights:** 84-hour hourly weather forecast, Ensemble cloud forecast, Kp index for Aurora, ISS flyover paths, Integrated smoke forecast, Sky and ground data, Rise and set times, Solar and Lunar eclipse data

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Astrospheric Pro Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Astrospheric Pro Subscription | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Precision tool for astrophotography
- 🔍 Detailed weather forecasts
- ⭐ Accurate and reliable
- 💻 Comprehensive data and features
- 📊 Helpful for planning observing sessions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional inaccurate forecasts
- 🔍 Missing some weather data (e.g. wind)
- 💰 Subscription required for full functionality
- 🔌 Compatibility issues on some devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing or not loading on some devices
- Inconsistent temperature and wind data

**Requested features**

- Notification system for clear skies
- Widgets for quick access to data
- More detailed transparency and seeing data
- Ability to flip east and west in the app


### SpaceWeatherLive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceweatherlive/id1435501021)

**Currently charting:** #172 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Track aurora and solar activity in real-time with detailed forecasts and historical data. Receive customizable push notifications for significant space weather events. Explore an extensive archive and learn from expert reports.

**Highlights:** Aurora and solar activity tracking, Real-time forecasts, Push notifications for space weather events, Dark mode for night use, Detailed graphs and reports, Extensive historical data archive, Beginner-friendly explanations

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free - monthly package | $0.99 | per month |
| Ad-free - half-yearly package | $5.49 | per 6 months |
| Ad-free - yearly package | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent space weather information
- 🔍 Detailed and informative data
- 📚 Helpful tutorials and explanations
- 🌍 Useful for aurora chasers and enthusiasts
- 🤖 Comprehensive data from various sources

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Overwhelming amount of information
- 🔔 Too many notifications/alerts
- 💰 Ads becoming too intrusive
- 🔌 Notifications not always working
- 🤔 Confusing navigation at times

**Reported bugs**

- Video links not working
- Alerts disappearing after opening the app
- Inconsistent performance after updates
- Notification count not clearing properly

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification settings
- Dark mode option
- Location-based alerts
- Ability to track solar activity trends
- Integration with other weather/astronomy apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astrospheric free?

Astrospheric is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SpaceWeatherLive free?

SpaceWeatherLive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Astrospheric or SpaceWeatherLive?

Astrospheric is rated higher. Astrospheric averages 4.8 out of 5 from 453 ratings, while SpaceWeatherLive averages 4.0 from 189 ratings.

### Do Astrospheric or SpaceWeatherLive have ads?

SpaceWeatherLive shows ads; Astrospheric does not.

### Which is updated more often, Astrospheric or SpaceWeatherLive?

Astrospheric ships an update every 3 weeks, and SpaceWeatherLive every 4 months. Most recently, Astrospheric was updated on September 23, 2026 and SpaceWeatherLive on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Astrospheric or SpaceWeatherLive?

Astrospheric currently peaks at #85 in the App Store charts, and SpaceWeatherLive at #172. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*