# Aurora Forecast 3D vs Step's Aurora Guide

The clearest difference is rating: Step's Aurora Guide at 4.6 against Aurora Forecast 3D's 3.7. Step's Aurora Guide also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (107 vs 3). Aurora Forecast 3D's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (33% vs 14%). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step's Aurora Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Aurora Forecast 3D asks for nothing beyond the download.

Step's Aurora Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step's Aurora Guide has 107 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Aurora Forecast 3D's written reviews are positive against 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Aurora Forecast 3D ships an update every 2 months, Step's Aurora Guide fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 19, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Aurora Forecast 3D | Step's Aurora Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-3d/id1266448783/reviews) | **[4.6 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **107** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#121** |
| Size | 48 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1266448782) | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) |

## What reviewers say

### Aurora Forecast 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-3d/id1266448783)

Visualize Earth in 3D and track the aurora borealis with real-time data and forecasts up to three days ahead. Includes an aurora compass, star maps, and satellite tracking.

**Highlights:** 3D Earth visualization, Real-time aurora oval tracking, Up to 3-day aurora forecasts, Aurora compass with Sun and Moon, 2.4 million star map, Satellite orbit calculations

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Step's Aurora Guide

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

**Currently charting:** #121 Top Free · Weather, #139 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 (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Forecasts & Guide | $6.99 | per month |
| All Forecasts & Guide | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Aurora Forecast 3D free?

Aurora Forecast 3D is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Step's Aurora Guide free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Aurora Forecast 3D or Step's Aurora Guide?

Step's Aurora Guide is rated higher. Aurora Forecast 3D averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.6 from 107 ratings.

### Do Aurora Forecast 3D or Step's Aurora Guide have ads?

Neither Aurora Forecast 3D nor Step's Aurora Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Aurora Forecast 3D or Step's Aurora Guide?

Aurora Forecast 3D ships an update every 2 months, and Step's Aurora Guide fortnightly. Most recently, Aurora Forecast 3D was updated on August 19, 2026 and Step's Aurora Guide on September 15, 2026.

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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.*