# Step's Aurora Guide vs Aurora Forecast

Step's Aurora Guide and Aurora Forecast both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 50% of Aurora Forecast's written reviews are positive against 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Step's Aurora Guide against 4.7 for Aurora Forecast. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 113 and 78 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 14% of Step's Aurora Guide's written reviews are positive against 50% of Aurora Forecast's.

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, Aurora Forecast monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Step's Aurora Guide | Aurora Forecast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (113 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steps-aurora-guide/id1670143757/reviews) | **[4.7 (78 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-borealis-map/id6752933257/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **113** | 78 |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #128 | **#88** |
| Size | 37 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steps Aurora Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896765831) | [Appelio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1616494815) |

## What reviewers say

### Step's Aurora Guide

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

**Currently charting:** #128 Top Free · Weather, #157 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-borealis-map/id6752933257)

**Currently charting:** #88 Top Grossing · Weather, #98 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Track the Northern Lights with real-time forecasts and smart alerts. Get detailed information on aurora activity, KP index, and visibility for your location, helping you plan the perfect viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time aurora forecasts, Location-based predictions, KP index and cloud cover data, Customizable aurora alerts, Global aurora map, Aurora viewing tips

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aurora Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Aurora Weekly Free Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Aurora Yearly Free Trial | $29.99 | per year |
| Aurora Yearly Free Trial | $29.99 | per year |
| Aurora Forecast Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Northern Lights Tracker | $19.99 | 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 Forecast free?

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

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

Aurora Forecast is rated higher. Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.6 out of 5 from 113 ratings, while Aurora Forecast averages 4.7 from 78 ratings.

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

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

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

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, and Aurora Forecast monthly. Most recently, Step's Aurora Guide was updated on October 17, 2026 and Aurora Forecast on October 16, 2026.

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

Step's Aurora Guide currently peaks at #128 in the App Store charts, and Aurora Forecast at #88. 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.*