# Sunbeam vs SPF

Sunbeam and SPF both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 70% of Sunbeam's written reviews are positive against 32% of SPF's. SPF's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks) and chart position (#56 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sunbeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and SPF sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 SPF. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 5K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Sunbeam's written reviews are positive against 32% of SPF's.

Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, SPF weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sunbeam | SPF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunbeam-uv-index-tracker/id1448601833/reviews)** | [4.6 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spf-tan-timer-and-uv-tracker/id6744385703/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.7K | **5K** |
| Positive reviews | **70.1% of reviews** | 31.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#56** |
| Size | 113 MB | 212 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Electric Acorn Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890746620) | [BluPalms](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699380087) |

## 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

**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


### SPF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spf-tan-timer-and-uv-tracker/id6744385703)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

This app helps you achieve a faster and safer tan by tracking UV levels, providing personalized routines, and reminding you to reapply sunscreen. Monitor your progress and avoid burns with a structured approach to sun exposure.

**Highlights:** Real-time UV level checks, Customized tanning routines, Daily SPF and skincare plan, Sunscreen reapplication alerts, Tan progress tracking, Quick tan timer

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SPF: Weekly Offer Plan | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Offer Plan | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Plan | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Plan | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| weekly5.99 | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| SPF: Yearly Offer Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| SPF: Yearly Offer Plan | $47.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful tanning routine
- 🚀 Efficient tanning process
- 💡 Free version available
- 👍 Tracks tanning progress

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Advanced tanning analytics
- Customizable tanning plans


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sunbeam free?

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

### Is SPF free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sunbeam or SPF?

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

### Do Sunbeam or SPF have ads?

Neither Sunbeam nor SPF shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sunbeam or SPF?

Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, and SPF weekly. Most recently, Sunbeam was updated on September 24, 2026 and SPF on September 23, 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.*