Comparison

lustar vs Weather M8

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

Head to head
About

lustar

This app provides hourly stargazing forecasts by combining local weather predictions with light pollution data. It features a searchable global map to help users find optimal viewing locations.

Highlights
  • Hourly stargazing forecasts
  • Light pollution data integration
  • Searchable world map
  • Local weather forecasts
  • Optimal viewing location finder
Features
Read full description

The two biggest factors keeping you from finding that perfect star gazing location are light pollution and weather. Using local weather forecasts and light pollution data, Lustar gives you a searchable map of the world with hourly stargazing forecasts for every location. Check out the Dark Site locations if you're not sure where to start.

About

Weather M8

Features
Read full description

Weather M8 is a powerful weather and geomagnetic forecast app designed for those who value clarity, precision, and privacy. With a clean, distraction‑free interface and stunning visualizations, it delivers pro‑level forecasts on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch — without ads or tracking. Whether you're planning your week on iPad, checking rain alerts on iPhone, or glancing at conditions on Apple Watch, Weather M8 keeps you informed — everywhere. AVAILABLE ON IPHONE, IPAD & APPLE WATCH • Full‑featured iPhone app • Beautifully designed iPad experience with spacious, adaptive layouts • Elegant Apple Watch companion app with glanceable forecasts and complications Your weather, perfectly synced across all your devices. KEY FEATURES • Current conditions for multiple locations • Hourly forecasts: 24 to 192 hours • Daily forecasts: 3 to 16 days • Weather maps: precipitation, temperature, wind, pressure, cloud cover • Air Quality Index (AQI) and pollen data • Marine data - current sea temperature, wave height, and wave direction • 3‑day geomagnetic storm forecast (Kp‑Index) • Detailed Sun & Moon events: sunrise, sunset, moon phases, golden hour • Customizable Home Screen widgets • Smart notifications and precipitation alerts • Apple Watch complications and quick‑glance forecasts OFFLINE READY Weather M8 caches your latest forecast, so you can access weather data even without a connection — ideal for travel and outdoor adventures. Data refreshes automatically when you're back online. • Hourly forecasts update every hour • Nowcasts and precipitation alerts update every 30 minutes • If rain or snow is expected within the next hour, you'll receive a widget alert and see a detailed precipitation chart inside the app PRIVACY FIRST. ALWAYS. • No ads • No tracking • No third‑party location sharing Weather M8 is built on a simple belief: your weather app should respect your privacy — on every device. PROFESSIONAL DATA SOURCES Unlock advanced capabilities with an affordable subscription: • Premium forecast providers (Apple Weather, Open‑Meteo, WeatherAPI, and more coming soon) • Advanced weather alerts and notifications • Full app and widget customization • All visual styles and configuration options Your subscription supports professional weather data costs and continuous development. Thank you for supporting independent app development. Privacy Policy: https://zaa.bz/weatherm8/privacy Terms of Use: https://zaa.bz/weatherm8/terms

Screenshots

lustar3 screens
Weather M84 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: lustar at none against Weather M8's 3. lustar also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Weather M8's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 96 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. Weather M8 sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. lustar asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

lustar ships an update every 96 months, Weather M8 monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
lustar versus Weather M8: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterlustarWeather M8
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 96 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size191 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTHIRSTY FISH LLCAndrei Zhukouski

In-app purchases

None

lustar

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Weather M8

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$12.991 Year

Questions

Is lustar free?
lustar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Weather M8 free?
Weather M8 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do lustar or Weather M8 have ads?
Neither lustar nor Weather M8 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, lustar or Weather M8?
lustar ships an update every 96 months, and Weather M8 monthly. Most recently, lustar was updated on November 2, 2026 and Weather M8 on October 27, 2026.

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