# CloudSpotter vs Clear Outside

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Clear Outside at none against CloudSpotter's 2. Clear Outside also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (71% vs 49%). CloudSpotter's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 10). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CloudSpotter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Clear Outside asks for nothing beyond the download.

Clear Outside holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of CloudSpotter's written reviews are positive against 71% of Clear Outside's.

CloudSpotter ships an update every 3 weeks, Clear Outside every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CloudSpotter | Clear Outside |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloudspotter/id1314437708/reviews) | **[4.2 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clear-outside/id6755946435/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 48.7% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 66 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cloud Appreciation Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039373550) | [First Light Optics](https://appshunter.io/developer/921555751) |

## What reviewers say

### CloudSpotter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cloudspotter/id1314437708)

Explore the sky and identify 58 cloud formations and optical effects with expert insights and user-submitted photos. Build your personal cloud collection and get community feedback on your spottings.

**Highlights:** Identify 58 cloud formations and optical effects, Expert text from the Cloud Appreciation Society, Build a personal collection of spottings, Community verification of spottings, View new spottings from users worldwide, Access 'Cloud-a-Days' with curated content

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CAS Membership (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| CAS Membership (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |


### Clear Outside

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clear-outside/id6755946435)

Get detailed, reliable weather forecasts specifically for astronomers, focusing on cloud cover. Track astronomical events like moon and sun times, darkness periods, and ISS passes. Save multiple locations for quick access to crucial data.

**Highlights:** Seven-day hourly cloud cover forecasts, Regular weather data (wind, rain, temperature), Moon and sun rise/set times, Civil/nautical/astronomical darkness periods, ISS pass-over information, Save and manage multiple locations

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CloudSpotter free?

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

### Is Clear Outside free?

Clear Outside is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CloudSpotter or Clear Outside?

Clear Outside is rated higher. CloudSpotter averages 3.8 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Clear Outside averages 4.2 from 10 ratings.

### Do CloudSpotter or Clear Outside have ads?

Neither CloudSpotter nor Clear Outside shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CloudSpotter or Clear Outside?

CloudSpotter ships an update every 3 weeks, and Clear Outside every 2 weeks. Most recently, CloudSpotter was updated on November 11, 2026 and Clear Outside on November 9, 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.*