# AuroraCast vs Aurora Compass

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Aurora Compass at 86% against AuroraCast's 17%. Aurora Compass also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.3) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). AuroraCast's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AuroraCast sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Aurora Compass sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Aurora Compass holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of AuroraCast's written reviews are positive against 86% of Aurora Compass's.

AuroraCast ships an update every 2 months, Aurora Compass every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AuroraCast | Aurora Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/auroracast-aurora-forecast/id1270592946/reviews) | **[4.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-compass/id6446504259/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **9** |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 112 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dunbar Technology, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1200379778) | [Otto Ranta-Ojala](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678149884) |

## 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 |


### Aurora Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-compass/id6446504259)

This app provides aurora forecasts and alerts, helping users find the best conditions to see the northern or southern lights. It offers detailed space weather data, real-time geomagnetic activity, and a cloudiness filter for accurate predictions.

**Highlights:** Aurora alert notifications, Geomagnetic activity tracking, Aurora forecast map, Real-time aurora probability, Solar image animation, Cloudiness forecast, Darkness tool

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pastel Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Black and White Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pink Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Purple Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| IBM Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Mint Color Palette | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gold Color Palette | $9.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Color Palette | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AuroraCast free?

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

### Is Aurora Compass free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AuroraCast or Aurora Compass?

Aurora Compass is rated higher. AuroraCast averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Aurora Compass averages 4.8 from 9 ratings.

### Do AuroraCast or Aurora Compass have ads?

Neither AuroraCast nor Aurora Compass shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AuroraCast or Aurora Compass?

AuroraCast ships an update every 2 months, and Aurora Compass every 5 weeks. Most recently, AuroraCast was updated on November 6, 2026 and Aurora Compass on November 3, 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.*