# Step's Aurora Guide vs Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map

The clearest difference is rating: Step's Aurora Guide at 4.6 against Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map's 1.0. Step's Aurora Guide also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 Forecast & Borealis Map sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 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, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step's Aurora Guide has 116 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Step's Aurora Guide | Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (116 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews)** | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-and-borealis-map/id6736677817/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **116** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#176** | — |
| Size | 37 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) | [VIHAN WEAVES](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770477701) |

## What reviewers say

### Step's Aurora Guide

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

**Currently charting:** #176 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 Forecast & Borealis Map

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-and-borealis-map/id6736677817)

This app helps you track and predict aurora borealis activity. Plan your adventures to witness the Northern Lights with real-time data and forecasts.

**Highlights:** Aurora forecasting, Real-time aurora alerts, Northern Lights map, Night sky planning, Aurora event tracking

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aurora Forecast One Week | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Aurora Forecast One Year | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Step's Aurora Guide free?

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

### Is Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map free?

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

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

Step's Aurora Guide is rated higher. Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.6 out of 5 from 116 ratings, while Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.

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

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

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

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, and Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map every 3 months. Most recently, Step's Aurora Guide was updated on October 27, 2026 and Aurora Forecast & Borealis Map on October 25, 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.*