Comparison

UV Today vs Sunbeam

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

Head to head
About

UV Today

Features
Read full description

Protect your children from UV rays. With this app you will get the current UV index of your location + a nice description of how to protect yourself and your children.

About

Sunbeam

This app provides real-time UV Index forecasts and personalized sun exposure tracking. It helps users avoid sunburn, monitor time spent in daylight, and estimate Vitamin D levels. Features include widgets, Apple Watch integration, and Apple Health syncing.

Highlights
  • Worldwide UV Index forecasts
  • Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets
  • Apple Watch app with complications
  • Apple Health integration
  • Personalized sunburn risk tracking
  • Live Activities for Lock Screen
  • Extended 10-day UV forecasts
Features
Read full description

Stay safe in the sun with accurate UV forecasts, personalized exposure insights, and smart tools for Time in Daylight and Vitamin D across iPhone and Apple Watch. Trusted by thousands worldwide, Sunbeam helps you know when UV levels are high, reduce your risk of sunburn, and make more confident decisions about time outdoors. Check the UV Index in seconds, track your sun exposure, and better understand how sunlight fits into your health and daily routine. Why people choose Sunbeam: - Know when to protect your skin: See accurate UV forecasts for your current location or anywhere you travel. - Reduce your risk of sunburn: Understand when UV levels are high and track your personalized sunburn risk over time. - Understand your sun exposure: Monitor Time in Daylight, Vitamin D, and exposure history with simple, useful insights. - Plan outdoor time more easily: View hourly UV forecasts for the next 10 days across your favorite locations around the world. - Beautiful widgets: Check UV forecasts, Vitamin D, and Time in Daylight right on your Home Screen or Lock Screen. - Live Activities: Track sun exposure sessions in real time from your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. - Full Apple Watch support: Use the Apple Watch app and complications to stay informed in the sun wherever you are. - Siri and Shortcuts support: Check the UV, start an exposure session, view your sun exposure, and more with best-in-class iOS integrations. - Make your health data more useful: Sync Time in Daylight and Vitamin D with Apple Health. - Choose a privacy-first app: Your data stays yours. Sunbeam never sells your data or uses it for targeted ads. Whether you want to protect your skin, spend more time outdoors with confidence, or build a better understanding of your daily sunlight exposure, Sunbeam helps you make smarter decisions in the sun. Certain features require a Sunbeam Pro subscription. ========================= If you purchase a Sunbeam Pro subscription, payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account. You will be automatically charged for renewal unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can turn off auto-renew at any time by going to your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. All purchases are final and refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term. Privacy Policy: https://richardj.org/sunbeam/privacy-policy/ Terms and Conditions: https://richardj.org/sunbeam/terms-and-conditions/ =========================

Screenshots

UV Today4 screens
Sunbeam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: UV Today at none against Sunbeam's 2. UV Today also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Sunbeam's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ads and device support 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. Sunbeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. UV Today asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UV Today ships an update every 5 months, Sunbeam every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
UV Today versus Sunbeam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUV TodaySunbeam
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews—69.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—1.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB113 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas GuilleminotElectric Acorn Ltd

Bugs and requests

UV Today

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Sunbeam

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Widget not working for some users
  • UV data not updating correctly in certain locations
  • Vitamin D tab not functioning as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Integration with Apple Health for better vitamin D tracking
  • Customizable sun exposure timers and alarms
  • Historical data and exposure tracking
  • More detailed skin type and sunscreen recommendations

In-app purchases

None

UV Today

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Sunbeam

Subscriptions2
  • Sunbeam Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Sunbeam Pro Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is UV Today free?
UV Today is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sunbeam free?
Sunbeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do UV Today or Sunbeam have ads?
Neither UV Today nor Sunbeam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UV Today or Sunbeam?
UV Today ships an update every 5 months, and Sunbeam every 4 weeks. Most recently, UV Today was updated on October 29, 2026 and Sunbeam on November 3, 2026.

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