Comparison

Sunbeam vs Purple

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

Head to head
About

Sunbeam

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
Read full description

Stay safe in the sun with accurate UV forecasts, personalized exposure insights, and smart tools for Time in Daylight and Vitamin D across iPhone and Apple Watch. Trusted by thousands worldwide, Sunbeam helps you know when UV levels are high, reduce your risk of sunburn, and make more confident decisions about time outdoors. Check the UV Index in seconds, track your sun exposure, and better understand how sunlight fits into your health and daily routine. Why people choose Sunbeam: - Know when to protect your skin: See accurate UV forecasts for your current location or anywhere you travel. - Reduce your risk of sunburn: Understand when UV levels are high and track your personalized sunburn risk over time. - Understand your sun exposure: Monitor Time in Daylight, Vitamin D, and exposure history with simple, useful insights. - Plan outdoor time more easily: View hourly UV forecasts for the next 10 days across your favorite locations around the world. - Beautiful widgets: Check UV forecasts, Vitamin D, and Time in Daylight right on your Home Screen or Lock Screen. - Live Activities: Track sun exposure sessions in real time from your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. - Full Apple Watch support: Use the Apple Watch app and complications to stay informed in the sun wherever you are. - Siri and Shortcuts support: Check the UV, start an exposure session, view your sun exposure, and more with best-in-class iOS integrations. - Make your health data more useful: Sync Time in Daylight and Vitamin D with Apple Health. - Choose a privacy-first app: Your data stays yours. Sunbeam never sells your data or uses it for targeted ads. Whether you want to protect your skin, spend more time outdoors with confidence, or build a better understanding of your daily sunlight exposure, Sunbeam helps you make smarter decisions in the sun. Certain features require a Sunbeam Pro subscription. ========================= If you purchase a Sunbeam Pro subscription, payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account. You will be automatically charged for renewal unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can turn off auto-renew at any time by going to your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. All purchases are final and refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term. Privacy Policy: https://richardj.org/sunbeam/privacy-policy/ Terms and Conditions: https://richardj.org/sunbeam/terms-and-conditions/ =========================

About

Purple

This app offers real-time UV index updates for your current location. Its unique visual interface uses a darkening background to indicate sun intensity, making sun safety easy to understand at a glance.

Highlights
  • Instant UV index updates
  • Visual background alerts
  • Minimalist and user-friendly design
  • Home screen widgets
  • Sun safety information
Features
Read full description

Purple provides real-time UV index updates for your current location, helping you make informed decisions about sun protection. Its intuitive design features a purple-themed interface, where the background darkens as UV levels rise—making it easy to assess sun intensity at a glance. Key Features: - Instant UV Index Updates: Get real-time UV readings for your location. - Visual Alerts: Background color shifts to reflect UV intensity. - Minimalist Design: Sleek and user-friendly for quick checks. - Sun Safety Made Simple: Stay prepared for outdoor activities. - Widgets: Access UV index info right from your home screen. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Sunbeam4 screens
Purple3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Purple at 100% against Sunbeam's 70%. Purple also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Sunbeam's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Sunbeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Purple sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, Purple every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sunbeam versus Purple: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSunbeamPurple
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews69.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElectric Acorn Ltd俊 林

Customer experience

Sunbeam

All ratings1,708 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews109 reviews
Positive69.7%
Neutral9.2%
Negative21.1%

Purple

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Sunbeam

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Purple

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Sunbeam

Subscriptions2
  • Sunbeam Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Sunbeam Pro Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
1 purchases

Purple

One-time1
  • Banana Mode$1.99

Questions

Is Sunbeam free?
Sunbeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Purple free?
Purple is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sunbeam or Purple have ads?
Neither Sunbeam nor Purple shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sunbeam or Purple?
Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, and Purple every 2 months. Most recently, Sunbeam was updated on November 3, 2026 and Purple on November 4, 2026.

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