Comparison

Sunbeam vs Buoyk

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

Buoyk

Access real-time marine conditions from public NOAA/NDBC buoys in a user-friendly app. View wave, wind, temperature, and tide data with detailed station pages and historical charts. Ideal for anyone planning activities near the water.

Highlights
  • Live buoy map of NOAA/NDBC stations
  • Wave, wind, temperature, and tide readings
  • Detailed station information
  • Historical measurement charts
  • Favorite stations with custom names
  • BuoyCAM image access
  • Metric and imperial units
Features
Read full description

Stop loading NOAA text files on your phone. Buoyk turns the public NOAA/NDBC buoy network into a fast, clean native app. Open the map, find a buoy, and read actual conditions without fighting tables, missing-value clutter, or generic weather summaries. Built for boaters, anglers, surfers, paddlers, sailors, dive planners, coastal photographers, and anyone who checks the water before making a plan. What you get: - A map of public NOAA/NDBC buoy and station observations - Wave, wind, water temperature, atmosphere, tide, and current readings when stations report them - Station detail pages that hide unavailable fields instead of showing useless placeholders - History charts for available measurements - Favorites with custom station names and up to 3 highlighted measurements - BuoyCAM images where NDBC publishes station cameras - Metric and imperial display options - Native iPhone and iPad support Buoyk is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NOAA, NDBC, NWS, or the U.S. government. Data availability, freshness, and accuracy depend on public source services and reporting stations. Important: Buoyk is for informational planning only. It is not a substitute for official marine forecasts, navigation equipment, emergency alerts, local authority guidance, or real-world judgment.

Screenshots

Sunbeam4 screens
Buoyk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Buoyk at none against Sunbeam's 2. Buoyk also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 70%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Sunbeam's advantage is ratings volume (1.7K vs 2). On price, update cadence, 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. Sunbeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Buoyk asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Buoyk holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. 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 100% of Buoyk's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, Buoyk fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sunbeam versus Buoyk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSunbeamBuoyk
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElectric Acorn LtdOleksii Naboichenko

Customer experience

Sunbeam

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

Buoyk

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

Buoyk

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
None

Buoyk

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sunbeam free?
Sunbeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Buoyk free?
Buoyk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sunbeam or Buoyk?
Buoyk is rated higher. Sunbeam averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Buoyk averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Sunbeam or Buoyk have ads?
Neither Sunbeam nor Buoyk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sunbeam or Buoyk?
Sunbeam ships an update every 4 weeks, and Buoyk fortnightly. Most recently, Sunbeam was updated on November 6, 2026 and Buoyk on October 31, 2026.

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