Comparison

Aurora Forecast & Alerts vs Tower 5

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

Head to head
About

Aurora Forecast & Alerts

Track and predict the Northern Lights with detailed forecasts and customizable alerts. Explore interactive maps, view solar wind data, and access educational resources to enhance your aurora viewing experience.

Highlights
  • Interactive Aurora Forecast Map
  • Customizable Kp Index Push Notifications
  • Solar Wind, Density, Bz, Bt Data
  • 30-minute Geomagnetic Power Forecast
  • 3-day and 27-day Space Weather Forecasts
  • SWPC Alerts, Watches & Warnings
  • Educational Viewing Tips
Features
Read full description

The best Aurora Forecast app for iOS. Main Features Include: + Interactive Aurora Forecast Map + Customizable Kp Index Push Notifications + Solar Wind, Density, Bz, Bt + 30-minute Geomagnetic Power Forecast + 3-day Space Weather Forecast + 27-day Space Weather Forecast + SWPC Alerts, Watches & Warnings + Short Term Forecast Model Graphics + Experimental Aurora Forecast Graphics + Educational Resources -- Interactive Aurora Forecast Map -- Tap anywhere on the map for a 30-minute, spot specific aurora visibility forecast. This data is customizable and updates every 5 minutes. -- Push Notifications -- Get notified when aurora visibility atmospheric conditions are forecasted to be favorable. Alerts can be customized by Kp Index. Currently there are 3 types of Push Notifications: Daily, Weeky, and SWPC Warnings & Alerts. -- Short Term Aurora Forecast -- + Hemispheric Power Index + Ovation Prime Forecast Model Graphics + General Space Weather Discussion -- 3-day Aurora Forecast -- + Middle & Upper Latitude K-index Forecast + Probability of Geomagnetic Conditions + Solar Radiation Storm Forecast Probability + Radio Blackout Activity & Forecast + Polar Cap Absorption Forecast + Whole Disk Flare Probability + Region Flare Probabilities + Solar Flux -- 27-day Aurora Forecast -- + Forecast Highlights Discussion + SWPC Alert Details + Kp Index + Ap Index + Radio Flux -- Educational Resources -- + Tips on Viewing the Aurora + Aurora Visibility: How Far South/North Can Aurora Be Observed? TERMS & CONDITIONS https://lwbrandsllc.com/aurora-forecast-app-terms-conditions/

About

Tower 5

Understand wildfire risk with real-time data on active fires, smoke plumes, and weather warnings. Generate detailed risk profiles for any U.S. address, including historical data and future climate projections. Essential for homeowners, professionals, and anyone concerned about fire safety.

Highlights
  • Live wildfire perimeters
  • Satellite hot-spot detections
  • Fire weather warnings
  • Smoke plume tracking
  • 96-hour rainfall timeline
  • Property wildfire risk profiles
  • Historical fire data
Read full description

Tower 5 is the easiest way to understand wildfire risk in your neighborhood — and across the United States. Whether you own a home in a fire-prone area, work in insurance underwriting, or just want to know when smoke is coming, Tower 5 puts the same federal data fire managers rely on into one map you can actually read. LIVE WILDFIRE INTELLIGENCE - Active fire perimeters from the National Interagency Fire Center - Satellite hot-spot detections from NASA FIRMS, refreshed throughout the day - Fire weather warnings from the National Weather Service - Smoke plumes from NOAA's Hazard Mapping System - A 96-hour rainfall timeline (past 24h to next 72h) - Real-time air temperature and surface wind across the country WILDFIRE RISK CONTEXT - Historical fire perimeters going back over a century - U.S. Drought Monitor severity, refreshed weekly - Tap any location to see every signal stacked in one popup PROPERTY RISK PROFILE Search any U.S. address to generate a comprehensive wildfire-risk profile: - Wildfire Hazard Potential rating - Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) classification - Future climate-adjusted burn probability - Surface fuel model — what would carry a fire here - Historical fires within 16 miles - Closest fire stations, hospitals, evacuation shelters Profiles are saved to your account so you can compare properties or revisit them later. PREMIUM (OPTIONAL) Tower 5 Premium unlocks advanced map layers — Hazard Potential, Future Risk, Energy Release Component, Surface Fuel Models, Wind, Drought, Hospitals, Shelters, and Power Lines — plus unlimited saved property profiles and PDF/CSV export. 7-day free trial, then $9.99/month. Subscription is managed at tower5.org/upgrade. WHO IT'S FOR - Homeowners in fire-prone areas - Insurance underwriters and risk analysts - Real estate buyers researching a property - Land managers and emergency planners - Anyone who's ever wondered "how close is that fire?" DATA SOURCES National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), NASA FIRMS, NOAA, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, LANDFIRE, National Weather Service, U.S. Drought Monitor, USGS SILVIS Lab, Department of Energy / HSIP. Per-layer attribution is available inside the app. LIMITATIONS Tower 5 is informational only. The app does not replace Wireless Emergency Alerts, NWS broadcasts, or guidance from your local fire authority. Always cross-check critical decisions with official sources. PRIVACY Tower 5 collects only the minimum data needed to authenticate your account and run your risk profiles. We do not sell user data. No third-party advertising SDKs. Privacy policy: https://tower5.org/privacy Terms of service: https://tower5.org/terms

Screenshots

Aurora Forecast & Alerts4 screens
Tower 53 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tower 5 at none against Aurora Forecast & Alerts's 1. Tower 5 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Aurora Forecast & Alerts's advantage is ratings volume (2.9K vs 2). On price, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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. Aurora Forecast & Alerts sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Tower 5 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tower 5 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aurora Forecast & Alerts has 2.9K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Forecast & Alerts ships an update every 2 months, Tower 5 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Aurora Forecast & Alerts versus Tower 5: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora Forecast & AlertsTower 5
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.9K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.9K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB32 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperLW Brands, LLCSnoflo.org LLC

Bugs and requests

Aurora Forecast & Alerts

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Sending false warnings for Aurora sightings
  • Malware ads appearing

Requested features

2 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to customize notification frequency

Tower 5

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Aurora Forecast & Alerts

Subscriptions1
  • Aurora Subscription$4.991 Year
None

Tower 5

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Aurora Forecast & Alerts free?
Aurora Forecast & Alerts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tower 5 free?
Tower 5 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Aurora Forecast & Alerts or Tower 5?
Tower 5 is rated higher. Aurora Forecast & Alerts averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Tower 5 averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Aurora Forecast & Alerts or Tower 5 have ads?
Aurora Forecast & Alerts shows ads; Tower 5 does not.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Forecast & Alerts or Tower 5?
Aurora Forecast & Alerts ships an update every 2 months, and Tower 5 fortnightly. Most recently, Aurora Forecast & Alerts was updated on November 8, 2026 and Tower 5 on November 5, 2026.

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