# Astrospheric vs Step's Aurora Guide

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Astrospheric at 88% against Step's Aurora Guide's 14%. Astrospheric also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (453 vs 107). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Astrospheric sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Step's Aurora Guide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Astrospheric holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 453 and 107 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Astrospheric's written reviews are positive against 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's.

Astrospheric ships an update every 3 weeks, Step's Aurora Guide fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astrospheric | Step's Aurora Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (453 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astrospheric/id1166046863/reviews)** | [4.6 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **453** | 107 |
| Positive reviews | **87.7% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#73** | #156 |
| Size | 47 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Fiordalis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166046862) | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) |

## What reviewers say

### Astrospheric

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

**Currently charting:** #73 Top Grossing · Weather, #163 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


### Step's Aurora Guide

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

**Currently charting:** #156 Top Free · Weather, #156 Top Grossing · 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 Astrospheric free?

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

### Is Step's Aurora Guide free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Astrospheric or Step's Aurora Guide?

Astrospheric is rated higher. Astrospheric averages 4.8 out of 5 from 453 ratings, while Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.6 from 107 ratings.

### Do Astrospheric or Step's Aurora Guide have ads?

Neither Astrospheric nor Step's Aurora Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astrospheric or Step's Aurora Guide?

Astrospheric ships an update every 3 weeks, and Step's Aurora Guide fortnightly. Most recently, Astrospheric was updated on October 1, 2026 and Step's Aurora Guide on October 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Astrospheric or Step's Aurora Guide?

Astrospheric currently peaks at #73 in the App Store charts, and Step's Aurora Guide at #156. 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.*