# AuroraCast vs Step's Aurora Guide

The clearest difference is rating: Step's Aurora Guide at 4.6 against AuroraCast's 2.3. Step's Aurora Guide also leads on ratings volume (116 vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). AuroraCast's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AuroraCast sells 2 one-off in-app purchases 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.

Step's Aurora Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step's Aurora Guide has 116 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of AuroraCast'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.

AuroraCast ships an update every 2 months, Step's Aurora Guide every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AuroraCast | Step's Aurora Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auroracast-aurora-forecast/id1270592946/reviews) | **[4.6 (116 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **116** |
| Positive reviews | **16.7% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#191** |
| Size | 112 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dunbar Technology, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1200379778) | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) |

## What reviewers say

### AuroraCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auroracast-aurora-forecast/id1270592946)

This app provides detailed aurora forecasts, including KP index, magnetic field data, and cloud cover maps. It also features live webcams, light pollution maps, and customizable alerts to help you find and view the Northern and Southern Lights.

**Highlights:** KP & Magnetic Field Info, Aurora Forecast Graphs, Live Aurora Maps, Light Pollution Map, Cloud Cover Map, Live Webcams, Aurora Alerts, Widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AuroraCast Pro Discounted | $3.99 | one-time |
| AuroraCast Pro | $5.99 | one-time |


### Step's Aurora Guide

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

**Currently charting:** #191 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 AuroraCast free?

AuroraCast 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, AuroraCast or Step's Aurora Guide?

Step's Aurora Guide is rated higher. AuroraCast averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.6 from 116 ratings.

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

Neither AuroraCast nor Step's Aurora Guide shows ads.

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

AuroraCast ships an update every 2 months, and Step's Aurora Guide every 3 weeks. Most recently, AuroraCast was updated on October 24, 2026 and Step's Aurora Guide on October 30, 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.*