Comparison

Aurora Forecast 极光预测 vs Along Weather

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

Head to head
About

Aurora Forecast 极光预测

Track aurora activity with detailed forecasts and maps for both hemispheres. Choose your observing site or explore preset locations globally. Understand forecast timing and local sky conditions for the best viewing experience.

Highlights
  • Aurora activity forecasts
  • Northern and southern hemisphere maps
  • Customizable observing site selection
  • 247 preset global locations
  • Local sky brightness check
  • English and Simplified Chinese language support
Features
Read full description

Explore aurora activity with forecasts for your observing site and maps of both hemispheres. Aurora Forecast uses NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center OVATION data to show short-term aurora model forecasts for specific locations, alongside northern and southern hemisphere images. CHOOSE YOUR OBSERVING SITE Select a preset city or enter the latitude and longitude of your actual observing location. Your chosen site has its own card for quick access. Coordinates stay on your device; the app downloads the global forecast grid and queries it locally. BROWSE 247 PRESET LOCATIONS Explore 6 city observing sites and 241 country or region representative points. Locations remain listed even when the model probability is zero. A representative point describes only that coordinate, not an entire country or region. UNDERSTAND FORECAST TIMING View observation and forecast validity times in your device's time zone. Probabilities are hidden when data expires or timestamps are invalid. The app attempts regular updates while the forecast page is visible and the app is active. You can also refresh manually. CHECK LOCAL SKY BRIGHTNESS See whether your observing site is in daylight, twilight or night at the forecast validity time, based on its coordinates and the sun's position. VIEW BOTH HEMISPHERES Browse separate northern and southern hemisphere aurora maps. Tap an image to open it and pinch to zoom. Refer to each image for its forecast time and color legend. ENGLISH AND SIMPLIFIED CHINESE Follow your system language or choose English or Simplified Chinese from the in-app language menu. Your choice is saved and takes effect immediately. PLEASE NOTE Model probability is not your chance of seeing the aurora. Clouds, moonlight, light pollution and terrain are not assessed. A model value of 0% does not rule out distant aurora. Grid interpolation makes location queries smoother but does not improve the original model's resolution. Consider the local weather and actual sky conditions. Forecasts and images require an internet connection and update independently. Check their respective validity times. Data source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

About

Along Weather

This app provides weather forecasts along your entire travel route, not just your current location or destination. Plan commutes and trips with multiple stops, and receive practical advice based on predicted conditions. Get timely reminders and widgets for at-a-glance weather updates.

Highlights
  • Route-aware weather forecasts
  • Multi-stop trip planning
  • Commute planning with departure/return
  • Rain, temperature, wind, UV, AQI, icy risk
  • Practical weather advice
  • Reminders and widgets
  • Calendar integration
Features
Read full description

Along Weather is built for the weather you actually move through. Instead of checking only your current location or destination, set your origin, destination, departure time, and travel mode. Along Weather samples the forecast along the route and matches each point to the time you are expected to pass through. ROUTE-AWARE COMMUTE WEATHER · Plan both departure and return commutes · Check rain, temperature, wind, UV, air quality, and icy-road risk · Get practical advice for umbrellas, jackets, sun protection, masks, and careful driving · Supports walking, cycling, driving, taxi, and public transit routes TRIPS WITH MULTIPLE STOPS Create a trip, add stops, and see weather by arrival time for each place on the itinerary. Afterward, compare planned and actual timing, add notes and photos, optionally generate an AI retrospective, and export the review as an image, PDF, or Markdown. REMINDERS AND WIDGETS Get notified before you leave, with the right commute name and a quick weather summary. Home Screen, Lock Screen, and widget views keep the next route visible without opening the app. SCHEDULES THAT MATCH REAL LIFE Choose active weekdays, set departure windows, and skip commute reminders on holidays with calendar support. In-app route planning and maps are provided by Apple MapKit. Forecasts are provided by Apple Weather. In supported regions, Pro users can also choose QWeather. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Aurora Forecast 极光预测2 screens
Along Weather4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Aurora Forecast 极光预测 at none against Along Weather's 3. Aurora Forecast 极光预测 also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). Along Weather's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Along Weather sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Aurora Forecast 极光预测 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Aurora Forecast 极光预测 against 5.0 for Along Weather. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Forecast 极光预测 ships an update every 2 months, Along Weather weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Aurora Forecast 极光预测 versus Along Weather: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora Forecast 极光预测Along Weather
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer富成 郑要正 王

Customer experience

Aurora Forecast 极光预测

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Along Weather

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Aurora Forecast 极光预测

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Along Weather

Subscriptions2
  • Along Weather Pro Monthly1 Month trial$1.991 Month
  • Along Weather Pro Annual$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Along Weather Pro Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Aurora Forecast 极光预测 free?
Aurora Forecast 极光预测 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Along Weather free?
Along Weather is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Aurora Forecast 极光预测 or Along Weather?
Aurora Forecast 极光预测 and Along Weather are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Aurora Forecast 极光预测 or Along Weather have ads?
Neither Aurora Forecast 极光预测 nor Along Weather shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Forecast 极光预测 or Along Weather?
Aurora Forecast 极光预测 ships an update every 2 months, and Along Weather weekly. Most recently, Aurora Forecast 极光预测 was updated on October 26, 2026 and Along Weather on October 24, 2026.

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