# Step's Aurora Guide vs Aurora Compass

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Aurora Compass at 80% against Step's Aurora Guide's 14%. Aurora Compass also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Step's Aurora Guide's advantage is ratings volume (107 vs 8) and chart position (#109 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step's Aurora Guide sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Aurora Compass sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Aurora Compass holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step's Aurora Guide has 107 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's written reviews are positive against 80% of Aurora Compass's.

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update fortnightly, Aurora Compass monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Step's Aurora Guide | Aurora Compass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews) | **[4.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-compass/id6446504259/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **107** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#109** | — |
| Size | 31 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) | [Otto Ranta-Ojala](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678149884) |

## What reviewers say

### Step's Aurora Guide

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

**Currently charting:** #109 Top Free · Weather, #161 Top Grossing · 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 (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Forecasts & Guide | $6.99 | per month |
| All Forecasts & Guide | $29.99 | per year |


### Aurora Compass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-compass/id6446504259)

This app provides aurora forecasts and alerts, helping users find the best conditions to see the northern or southern lights. It offers detailed space weather data, real-time geomagnetic activity, and a cloudiness filter for accurate predictions.

**Highlights:** Aurora alert notifications, Geomagnetic activity tracking, Aurora forecast map, Real-time aurora probability, Solar image animation, Cloudiness forecast, Darkness tool

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pastel Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Black and White Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pink Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Purple Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| IBM Color Palette | $1.99 | one-time |
| Mint Color Palette | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gold Color Palette | $9.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Color Palette | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Step's Aurora Guide free?

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

### Is Aurora Compass free?

Aurora Compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Step's Aurora Guide or Aurora Compass?

Aurora Compass is rated higher. Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.6 out of 5 from 107 ratings, while Aurora Compass averages 4.8 from 8 ratings.

### Do Step's Aurora Guide or Aurora Compass have ads?

Neither Step's Aurora Guide nor Aurora Compass shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Step's Aurora Guide or Aurora Compass?

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update fortnightly, and Aurora Compass monthly. Most recently, Step's Aurora Guide was updated on September 15, 2026 and Aurora Compass on September 10, 2026.

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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.*