# Northern Lights Forecast vs Step's Aurora Guide

The clearest difference is price: Step's Aurora Guide at Free against Northern Lights Forecast's $4.99. Step's Aurora Guide also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Northern Lights Forecast's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). On review sentiment, ads and chart position there is nothing between them.

Step's Aurora Guide is free to download; Northern Lights Forecast costs $4.99 up front. Step's Aurora Guide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Northern Lights Forecast asks for nothing beyond the download.

Step's Aurora Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step's Aurora Guide has 116 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 16% of Northern Lights Forecast's written reviews are positive against 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Northern Lights Forecast ships an update every 2 months, Step's Aurora Guide every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Northern Lights Forecast | Step's Aurora Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.5 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northern-lights-forecast/id1492559559/reviews) | **[4.6 (116 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **116** |
| Positive reviews | **16.0% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#118** | #170 |
| Size | 33 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Letovaltsev Maxim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1092949786) | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) |

## What reviewers say

### Northern Lights Forecast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northern-lights-forecast/id1492559559)

**Currently charting:** #118 Top Paid · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides real-time alerts and forecasts for the Northern Lights. It uses your location to notify you when the aurora is visible and offers live webcam feeds and a detailed aurora map for optimal viewing. Plan your aurora trips with multi-day forecasts.

**Highlights:** Real-time aurora alerts, Customizable notification settings, Live Northern Lights webcams, Aurora map with viewing locations, KP index forecast (3-day and 27-day), Sort webcams by distance and aurora pixels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Step's Aurora Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757)

**Currently charting:** #170 Top Grossing · Weather, #202 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides aurora forecasts, alerts, and expert photography advice. It helps users plan and capture stunning aurora images with real-time data, geomagnetic forecasts, and personalized guidance.

**Highlights:** 27-day geomagnetic activity forecast, Moon phase and darkness alignment, Real-time aurora probability, Hour-by-hour weather updates, Expert photography advice, Custom location comparison

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alerts, Forecast & Guide | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Alerts, Forecast & Guide | $6.99 | per month |
| Alerts, Forecast & Guide | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Northern Lights Forecast free?

Northern Lights Forecast costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Step's Aurora Guide free?

Step's Aurora Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Northern Lights Forecast or Step's Aurora Guide?

Step's Aurora Guide is rated higher. Northern Lights Forecast averages 2.5 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.6 from 116 ratings.

### Do Northern Lights Forecast or Step's Aurora Guide have ads?

Neither Northern Lights Forecast nor Step's Aurora Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Northern Lights Forecast or Step's Aurora Guide?

Northern Lights Forecast ships an update every 2 months, and Step's Aurora Guide every 3 weeks. Most recently, Northern Lights Forecast was updated on October 27, 2026 and Step's Aurora Guide on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Northern Lights Forecast or Step's Aurora Guide?

Northern Lights Forecast currently peaks at #118 in the App Store charts, and Step's Aurora Guide at #170. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*