Comparison

Sunbeam vs Luminous

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

Luminous

This app tracks real-time UV levels and your daily sun exposure to help you protect your skin and stay healthy. It offers smart notifications and integrates with Apple Health for comprehensive wellness tracking.

Highlights
  • Real-time UV measurement
  • Automatic exposure tracking
  • Smart UV notifications
  • Apple Health integration
  • Winter sun exposure tracking
Features
Read full description

Your skin needs the right amount of sun. Not too much, not too little. Luminous measures real-time UV levels and tracks your daily exposure, so you can protect your skin, boost your mood, and stay healthy all year round. - Real-time UV measurement so you always know what you're stepping into - Automatic exposure tracking via Apple Watch or in-app timers - Smart notifications when UV levels become harmful, or when you've hit your daily goal - Apple Health integration to keep all your wellness data in one place - Stay on top of sun exposure in winter, when healthy light is hardest to come by You can find more about the standard End user license agreement here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Sunbeam4 screens
Luminous4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sunbeam at 4.7 against Luminous's 3.5. Sunbeam also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 2) and review sentiment (70% vs 50%). Luminous's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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 Luminous sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sunbeam holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sunbeam has 1.7K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Sunbeam's written reviews are positive against 50% of Luminous's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, Luminous every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sunbeam versus Luminous: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSunbeamLuminous
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better3.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews69.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.7K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElectric Acorn LtdTrevor Grady

Customer experience

Sunbeam

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

Luminous

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Luminous

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
3 purchases

Luminous

Subscriptions3
  • Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Luminous Plus Annual$12.991 Year
  • Annual14 Days trial$12.991 Year

Questions

Is Sunbeam free?
Sunbeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Luminous free?
Luminous is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sunbeam or Luminous?
Sunbeam is rated higher. Sunbeam averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Luminous averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Sunbeam or Luminous have ads?
Neither Sunbeam nor Luminous shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sunbeam or Luminous?
Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, and Luminous every 10 days. Most recently, Sunbeam was updated on November 11, 2026 and Luminous on October 30, 2026.

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