# Sunbeam vs UV Index

The clearest difference is ads: Sunbeam at none against UV Index's shown. UV Index's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sunbeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and UV Index sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Sunbeam against 4.6 for UV Index. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Sunbeam's written reviews are positive against 76% of UV Index's.

Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, UV Index every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sunbeam | UV Index |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunbeam-uv-index-tracker/id1448601833/reviews)** | [4.6 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uv-index-sunwise/id6449424793/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 1.1K |
| Positive reviews | 69.7% of reviews | **75.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 113 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Electric Acorn Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890746620) | [Alcaeus Development AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1638202818) |

## What reviewers say

### Sunbeam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunbeam-uv-index-tracker/id1448601833)

This app provides real-time UV Index forecasts and personalized sun exposure tracking. It helps users avoid sunburn, monitor time spent in daylight, and estimate Vitamin D levels. Features include widgets, Apple Watch integration, and Apple Health syncing.

**Highlights:** Worldwide UV Index forecasts, Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets, Apple Watch app with complications, Apple Health integration, Personalized sunburn risk tracking, Live Activities for Lock Screen, Extended 10-day UV forecasts

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sunbeam Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Sunbeam Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate UV tracking
- 👍 Helpful for planning sun exposure
- 🌞 Useful for tanning and vitamin D generation
- 🔒 Respects user privacy
- 📊 Provides detailed hourly and daily UV forecasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and connectivity issues
- 📍 Difficulty setting custom location
- 🔋 High battery consumption for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not working for some users
- UV data not updating correctly in certain locations
- Vitamin D tab not functioning as expected

**Requested features**

- Integration with Apple Health for better vitamin D tracking
- Customizable sun exposure timers and alarms
- Historical data and exposure tracking
- More detailed skin type and sunscreen recommendations


### UV Index

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uv-index-sunwise/id6449424793)

Track real-time UV levels and plan your sun exposure safely. Get personalized tips, check forecasts, and estimate your safe sun time. Stay informed and protected from harmful UV rays.

**Highlights:** Real-time UV Index, 10-Day UV Forecast, Global UV Search, Sunburn Timer, Skin Type Recommendations, Widgets

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| UV Index Pro Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| UV Index Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| SunWise Pro - Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| SunWise Pro - Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| UV Index Pro Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| SunWise Pro - Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| SunWise Pro - Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| UV Index Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| UV Index Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| UV Index Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Reliable for tanning
- 📊 Tracks weather and UV exposure
- 💡 Personalized tanning tips
- 🔍 Accurate UV index

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features require paid subscription
- 🔒 Limited access to full functionality without paying

**Reported bugs**

- App sometimes doesn't work as expected
- Buttons and features not always responsive

**Requested features**

- Add hourly UV exposure indicators
- Include more features in free version
- Improve widget functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sunbeam free?

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

### Is UV Index free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sunbeam or UV Index?

Sunbeam is rated higher. Sunbeam averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while UV Index averages 4.6 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Sunbeam or UV Index have ads?

UV Index shows ads; Sunbeam does not.

### Which is updated more often, Sunbeam or UV Index?

Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, and UV Index every 5 days. Most recently, Sunbeam was updated on November 11, 2026 and UV Index on November 7, 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.*