Comparison

Step's Aurora Guide vs Meteor Shower

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

Head to head
About

Step's Aurora Guide

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Created by an aurora photographer, the app is your perfect companion for aurora adventures. Make informed decisions, get timely alerts, and improve your chances of seeing and capturing the northern lights and aurora australis. Discover the features that make this app indispensable: Timely Alerts Don't miss the aurora. Receive notifications about elevated Kp-index levels in the coming days and when your chances of witnessing the aurora within the next hour are becoming high. Get the notice you need to be ready. Real-time Aurora Forecast Witness the aurora probability in real-time with the SWPC Ovation aurora forecast. Instantly see current aurora probabilities, monitor unfolding trends, and pinpoint the anticipated peak times — all tailored for your location. These insights pair perfectly with aurora alerts. Additionally, solar wind parameters offer a deeper understanding of current aurora activity. Precise Decision-making Make informed choices for tonight and beyond. Access hour-by-hour updates on geomagnetic activity, cloud coverage, temperature, and wind forecast. Compare conditions for your current location and up to 5 custom spots. Advanced Planning Stay one step ahead with our 27-day geomagnetic activity forecast. Seamlessly align your photography sessions with the optimal moon phase and ensure darkness prevails in your selected locations. Track the aurora season from the start. Expert Text Guide Receive tailored advice based on aurora and weather forecasts, moon positioning, and your location. Discover whether the aurora will grace the horizon or dance overhead. Optimise your shots with tips on capturing reflections and shooting under moonlight. Benefit from forecast-based recommendations and camera settings guidance. Additional Features and Beyond Experience a range of other useful features, with more updates on the horizon. Global Applicability The app is designed for global use in all regions where auroras can be visible, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, and more. Aurora looks the same — the landscape makes the difference. Subscription Options The app is available with a weekly, monthly, or yearly auto-renewable subscription, each with a 3-day free trial and full access to all app features, including High Kp-index and Aurora alerts. Download the app and start your 3-day free trial today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Meteor Shower

Get precise forecasts for upcoming meteor showers, including peak times, viewing locations, and visibility scores. This app provides an annual calendar and alerts for major celestial events, working offline without an account.

Highlights
  • Meteor shower alerts
  • Viewing time and location forecasts
  • Moon illumination and twilight data
  • Visibility score for each shower
  • Annual meteor shower calendar
  • On-device forecast computation
  • Offline functionality
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

See every meteor shower before it peaks — Meteor Shower turns your location and the date into a clear, deterministic forecast: when to look, where to look, and how good the show will be. WHAT YOU GET • Alerts before every major shower — Perseids, Geminids, Quadrantids, Lyrids, Orionids, Leonids and more • Tonight's viewing window: peak time, radiant altitude and the dark-sky window for YOUR location • Moon illumination and twilight, so you know if the sky will actually be dark • A visibility score for each shower — no guesswork • A full annual meteor-shower calendar No account needed. The forecast is computed on-device from astronomy, not scraped from a website — it works anywhere. Look up more often. Wish on more shooting stars. Meteor Shower Plus unlocks alerts for multiple locations, the AR sky scanner, and home-screen widgets. Subscribe weekly for $4.99 (with a free trial where offered), or unlock everything forever with a one-time $29.99 lifetime purchase. Prices may vary by region and are shown before you buy. Auto-renewing subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; you can manage or cancel anytime in your account settings. Terms of Use: https://meteorshower.me/terms Privacy Policy: https://meteorshower.me/privacy

Screenshots

Step's Aurora Guide4 screens
Meteor Shower4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Meteor Shower at 5.0 against Step's Aurora Guide's 4.5. Meteor Shower also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). Step's Aurora Guide's advantage is ratings volume (117 vs 3). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Step's Aurora Guide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Meteor Shower sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Meteor Shower holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Step's Aurora Guide has 117 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, Meteor Shower every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Step's Aurora Guide versus Meteor Shower: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStep's Aurora GuideMeteor Shower
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (117 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings117 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#128#90 — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteps Aurora GuideIlsur Gabdulkhakov

Customer experience

Step's Aurora Guide

All ratings113 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral3.5%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.7%

Meteor Shower

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Step's Aurora Guide

Subscriptions3
  • Alerts, Forecast & Guide3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Alerts, Forecast & Guide3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Alerts, Forecast & Guide3 Days trial$29.991 Year
3 purchases

Meteor Shower

Subscriptions2
  • premium3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • premium$4.997 Days
One-time1
  • premium$29.99

Questions

Is Step's Aurora Guide free?
Step's Aurora Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Meteor Shower free?
Meteor Shower is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Step's Aurora Guide or Meteor Shower?
Meteor Shower is rated higher. Step's Aurora Guide averages 4.5 out of 5 from 117 ratings, while Meteor Shower averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Step's Aurora Guide or Meteor Shower have ads?
Neither Step's Aurora Guide nor Meteor Shower shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Step's Aurora Guide or Meteor Shower?
Step's Aurora Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, and Meteor Shower every 2 days. Most recently, Step's Aurora Guide was updated on November 12, 2026 and Meteor Shower on November 10, 2026.
Which is more popular, Step's Aurora Guide or Meteor Shower?
Step's Aurora Guide currently peaks at #128 in the App Store charts, and Meteor Shower at #90. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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