# Astrospheric vs Aurora Forecast & Alerts

Astrospheric and Aurora Forecast & Alerts both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of Astrospheric's written reviews are positive against 51% of Aurora Forecast & Alerts's. Astrospheric also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Aurora Forecast & Alerts's advantage is ratings volume (2.9K vs 484). On price, rating, 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 Aurora Forecast & Alerts sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Astrospheric holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aurora Forecast & Alerts has 2.9K ratings behind it against 484, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Astrospheric's written reviews are positive against 51% of Aurora Forecast & Alerts's.

Astrospheric ships an update every 2 weeks, Aurora Forecast & Alerts every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astrospheric | Aurora Forecast & Alerts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (484 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrospheric/id1166046863/reviews)** | [4.6 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-and-alerts/id1476831567/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 484 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **86.8% of reviews** | 51.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#71** | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Fiordalis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166046862) | [LW Brands, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/963599018) |

## What reviewers say

### Astrospheric

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

**Currently charting:** #71 Top Grossing · Weather, #145 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


### Aurora Forecast & Alerts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-and-alerts/id1476831567)

Track and predict the Northern Lights with detailed forecasts and customizable alerts. Explore interactive maps, view solar wind data, and access educational resources to enhance your aurora viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Interactive Aurora Forecast Map, Customizable Kp Index Push Notifications, Solar Wind, Density, Bz, Bt Data, 30-minute Geomagnetic Power Forecast, 3-day and 27-day Space Weather Forecasts, SWPC Alerts, Watches & Warnings, Educational Viewing Tips

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aurora Subscription | $4.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app and quick responses
- 👍 Accurate and timely notifications
- 👍 Intuitive displays for casual and advanced users
- 👍 Helpful in remote locations like Alaska
- 👍 Useful for capturing beautiful photos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashing when opening the app
- 🐛 Map not updating
- 🐛 App quitting with no reason
- 🔍 Too technical for casual users
- 💰 Too many ads and annoying pop-ups

**Reported bugs**

- Sending false warnings for Aurora sightings
- Malware ads appearing

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to customize notification frequency


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astrospheric free?

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

### Is Aurora Forecast & Alerts free?

Aurora Forecast & Alerts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Astrospheric or Aurora Forecast & Alerts?

Astrospheric is rated higher. Astrospheric averages 4.8 out of 5 from 484 ratings, while Aurora Forecast & Alerts averages 4.6 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do Astrospheric or Aurora Forecast & Alerts have ads?

Aurora Forecast & Alerts shows ads; Astrospheric does not.

### Which is updated more often, Astrospheric or Aurora Forecast & Alerts?

Astrospheric ships an update every 2 weeks, and Aurora Forecast & Alerts every 2 months. Most recently, Astrospheric was updated on November 6, 2026 and Aurora Forecast & Alerts on November 8, 2026.

---

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