# Step's Aurora Guide vs Aurora Alerts & Forecast

The clearest difference is rating: Step's Aurora Guide at 4.5 against Aurora Alerts & Forecast's 3.6. Step's Aurora Guide also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (14% vs 0%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Step's Aurora Guide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Aurora Alerts & Forecast sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Step's Aurora Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 117 and 120 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's written reviews are positive against 0% of Aurora Alerts & Forecast's.

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, Aurora Alerts & Forecast every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Step's Aurora Guide | Aurora Alerts & Forecast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (117 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews)** | [3.6 (120 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-alerts-and-forecast/id6553985245/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 117 | **120** |
| Positive reviews | **14.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#174** | — |
| Size | 37 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) | [AppziBrain Infotech LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741704664) |

## What reviewers say

### Step's Aurora Guide

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

**Currently charting:** #174 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 (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 |


### Aurora Alerts & Forecast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-alerts-and-forecast/id6553985245)

This app provides real-time aurora forecasts and alerts, using your location to offer local visibility ratings. It analyzes weather data and aurora scores to predict the best times and places to see the Northern Lights.

**Highlights:** Real-time KP index and aurora likelihood, Best viewing locations list, Global aurora strength map, Local aurora visibility ratings, Cloud cover and visibility analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aurora Forecast One Week | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Aurora Forecast One Month | $5.99 | per month |
| Aurora Forecast Three Month | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Aurora Forecast One Year | $19.99 | per year |
| Aurora Video 100 Credits | $9.99 | one-time |
| Aurora Forecast Lifetime | $44.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Misleading subscription pricing
- 🚫 No accessible free content
-  광고 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🤷 No useful content
- 🔒 All features locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- App gets stuck after showing ads
- App closes without paying
- No alerts despite premium subscription
- Location tracking is inaccurate

**Requested features**

- Provide a free trial
- Offer more accessible free content
- Improve alert functionality
- Explain subscription benefits clearly
- Show content without subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Step's Aurora Guide free?

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

### Is Aurora Alerts & Forecast free?

Aurora Alerts & Forecast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Step's Aurora Guide or Aurora Alerts & Forecast?

Step's Aurora Guide is rated higher. Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.5 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while Aurora Alerts & Forecast averages 3.6 from 120 ratings.

### Do Step's Aurora Guide or Aurora Alerts & Forecast have ads?

Aurora Alerts & Forecast shows ads; Step's Aurora Guide does not.

### Which is updated more often, Step's Aurora Guide or Aurora Alerts & Forecast?

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, and Aurora Alerts & Forecast every 9 days. Most recently, Step's Aurora Guide was updated on November 3, 2026 and Aurora Alerts & Forecast on October 30, 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.*