Comparison

Amazing Aurora vs MagmaSync

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

Head to head
About

Amazing Aurora

This app helps you find the best times and locations to see the aurora borealis. It provides solar wind and sun/moon data, forecasts, and allows users to report sightings. Enhanced features are available with a subscription.

Highlights
  • Solar wind and sun/moon data
  • Aurora borealis forecasts
  • User aurora sighting reports
  • Kp index and Hemispheric Power notifications
  • OVATION forecast
  • Subscription for advanced features
Features
Read full description

The Amazing Aurora app is designed to assist those who want to witness the beauty of the aurora borealis or, the northern lights. The app includes solar wind and sun/moon data to aid in recommending the best times to try seeing the northern lights. Additionally, the app takes the experience one step further and allows users to actively engage in the chase by reporting whether or not they are witnessing aurora activity. Amazing Aurora attempts to take all of the scientific data and put it in a form that is easy to understand and help its users determine when the best time is, within an hour, to try seeing Lady Aurora in all of her beauty! When you download the app, you will get: - Solar wind data for the next hour - Current and next hour Kp - Kp forecast for the next three days - Current solar wind data charts - Current OVATION forecast - Current aurora reports - Notification options for Kp, Hemispheric Power, Favorable Condition, and Summer Silence With a subscription, you will receive the following added features: - 2-hour OVATION forecast (last hour to next hour) - Solar wind data charts for the past three days - Ability to view reports for the past three days - Notification options already included plus the ability to set your minimum Kp and HPI notification values - Get alerted when solar storms are forecast and sub-storms are detected - Get alerts when other users in your area are seeing aurora activity - Set your location to anywhere in the world so you can be alerted of activity or to conceal your actual location Subscriptions are available for 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year. You can choose whatever length you want to unlock all of the information Amazing Aurora offers!

About

MagmaSync

Get real-time updates on Kilauea volcano activity, including eruption status, forecasts, and observatory messages. View live camera feeds, ground deformation data, and summit weather. Features AI-powered summaries and multi-language translation.

Highlights
  • Real-time alert level and color code
  • Official observatory messages
  • Eruption status tracking
  • AI-powered eruption forecasts
  • Push notifications for alerts
  • Live volcano camera feeds
  • Ground deformation plots
  • Summit weather conditions
Features
Currently charting
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Stay connected to Kilauea - one of the world's most active volcanoes - with real-time data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). MagmaSync delivers live volcano monitoring data, eruption forecasts, and observatory messages straight to your iPhone. Whether you're a resident of Hawaii, a traveler, a geology enthusiast, or a researcher, MagmaSync keeps you informed with the latest from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). REAL-TIME MONITORING - View the current alert level and aviation color code at a glance - Read official observatory messages as they're published by USGS/HVO - Track eruption status - erupting, fountaining, overflowing, or paused USGS POWERED ERUPTION FORECASTS - Get USGS predicted eruption forecast windows PUSH NOTIFICATIONS - Receive instant alerts when the volcano's alert level or aviation color code changes - Get notified when new observatory messages are published - Stay ahead with time-sensitive eruption forecast window updates LIVE CAMERAS - Watch Kīlauea live from multiple USGS/HVO volcano cameras - See eruption activity, lava flows, and summit views in real time - Switch between camera angles without leaving the app GROUND DEFORMATION - View USGS electronic tilt plots for the summit and East Rift Zone - Track how the volcano is inflating or deflating over 2 days, a week, a month, or 3 months - Pinch or double-tap to zoom in on the plots for a closer look - Built-in guide explains how to read the charts WEATHER AT THE SUMMIT - Check current conditions at Kīlauea powered by Apple WeatherKit - Hourly forecast, 10-day outlook, UV index, and rain probability - Sunrise and sunset times, visibility, and active weather alerts MULTI-LANGUAGE TRANSLATION - Translate observatory messages into dozens of languages - Powered by Apple's on-device Translation framework — works offline - Enable auto-translate for seamless reading in your preferred language AI-GENERATED SUMMARIES - Get concise, easy-to-understand summaries of lengthy observatory messages - Powered by Apple Intelligence — processed entirely on your device - Choose your preferred summary language DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE - Clean, intuitive interface with beautiful dynamic visuals - Dark mode and light mode support with customizable appearance - No account or login required — just open and explore - Completely free with no in-app purchases or ads DISCLAIMER & LEGAL MagmaSync is an independent, third-party app. It is NOT an official product of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), or any government agency. MagmaSync is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the USGS or any federal, state, or local government entity. All volcano monitoring data displayed in the app originates from publicly available USGS sources. While we strive to deliver accurate and timely information, MagmaSync does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any data or notifications. MagmaSync is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for official emergency alerts or safety guidance. Notifications may experience network or processing delays. AI-generated translations and summaries may be inaccurate or incomplete. For real-time safety updates and emergency instructions, always consult official local government authorities. By using MagmaSync, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, available at https://magmasync.web.app.

Screenshots

Amazing Aurora4 screens
MagmaSync4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MagmaSync at 89% against Amazing Aurora's 50%. MagmaSync also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Amazing Aurora's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On price 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. Amazing Aurora sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MagmaSync asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MagmaSync holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MagmaSync has 224 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Amazing Aurora's written reviews are positive against 89% of MagmaSync's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Amazing Aurora ships an update every 2 months, MagmaSync weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Amazing Aurora versus MagmaSync: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmazing AuroraMagmaSync
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (25 ratings)4.9 (224 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews88.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25224 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#160 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS14.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSharp Rock Ventures LLCShuangquan Li

Customer experience

Amazing Aurora

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%

MagmaSync

All ratings220 ratings
Positive98.2%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Amazing Aurora

Subscriptions3
  • 1-Month Subscription$2.991 Month
  • 6-Month Subscription$9.996 Months
  • 1-Year Subscription$14.991 Year
None

MagmaSync

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Amazing Aurora free?
Amazing Aurora is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MagmaSync free?
MagmaSync is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Amazing Aurora or MagmaSync?
MagmaSync is rated higher. Amazing Aurora averages 4.4 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while MagmaSync averages 4.9 from 224 ratings.
Do Amazing Aurora or MagmaSync have ads?
Amazing Aurora shows ads; MagmaSync does not.
Which is updated more often, Amazing Aurora or MagmaSync?
Amazing Aurora ships an update every 2 months, and MagmaSync weekly. Most recently, Amazing Aurora was updated on November 3, 2026 and MagmaSync on November 5, 2026.

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