# Mooncast vs Moon Phase & Widgets

The clearest difference is price: Moon Phase & Widgets at Free against Mooncast's $3.99. Mooncast's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (91% vs 68%). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Moon Phase & Widgets is free to download; Mooncast costs $3.99 up front. Moon Phase & Widgets sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Mooncast asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Mooncast against 4.7 for Moon Phase & Widgets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.6K and 6.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Mooncast's written reviews are positive against 68% of Moon Phase & Widgets's.

Mooncast ships an update every 11 days, Moon Phase & Widgets every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mooncast | Moon Phase & Widgets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mooncast/id473165402/reviews)** | [4.7 (6.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-phase-and-widgets-lunar/id1141720421/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3.6K | **6.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **91.2% of reviews** | 68.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #86 | **#41** |
| Size | 64 MB | 249 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mathieu Routhier](https://appshunter.io/developer/369283978) | [Bjorn Jenssen](https://appshunter.io/developer/590354152) |

## What reviewers say

### Mooncast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mooncast/id473165402)

**Currently charting:** #86 Top Paid · Weather (US App Store)

Discover the current phase of the moon with stunning visuals and precise data. Explore the lunar cycle, track upcoming full and new moons, and access historical and future lunar information. This app offers a beautiful and accurate way to stay informed about celestial events.

**Highlights:** High-fidelity moon phase visuals, Interactive lunar timeline, Accurate full and new moon predictions, Long-term lunar almanac, Precise peak moon timestamps, Smart lunar event reminders, Customizable visual themes

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple, informative, clear and beautiful
- 👍 Beautiful and centering app
- 👍 Charming way to be aware of the moon phases
- 👍 Accurate and easy to use
- 👍 Useful with a new moon and full moon reminder

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Pointless except for the pretty picture
- ❌ Complication on Watch doesn't show moon phase
- ❌ Needs localization for southern hemisphere
- ❌ Disappointing, not worth the money

**Reported bugs**

- 🐛 Alarms don't always work
- 🐛 Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- 💡 Show what zodiac sign the moon is in
- 💡 Add moon rise and set times
- 💡 Allow setting custom reminder times
- 💡 Add a monthly calendar view


### Moon Phase & Widgets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-phase-and-widgets-lunar/id1141720421)

**Currently charting:** #41 Top Free · Weather, #84 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Track the current moon phase, moonrise/moonset times, and celestial events with stunning accuracy. Explore past and future lunar data, illumination, and zodiac signs. Personalize your device with interactive widgets and receive timely notifications.

**Highlights:** Current moon phase tracking, Moonrise and moonset times, Full Moon, New Moon, and Eclipse alerts, Real-time 3D Moon rendering, Home and Lock Screen widgets, Lunar Zodiac sign information, Apple Watch integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro Version Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Lunar Phase Widget Pro | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌙 Beautiful moon phase display
- 📊 Comprehensive moon data
- 🔍 Accurate moon tracking
- 🎨 Elegant and intuitive interface
- 🕰️ Helpful moon rise/set times

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for key features like widgets
- 🤔 Confusing transition to paid model
- 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies in moon phase data
- 🤖 Issues with app and widget compatibility
- 🔄 Slow or inconsistent app updates

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect waxing/waning moon display
- Widget disappearing or not working
- Calendar dates not syncing correctly
- App crashes or freezes on launch

**Requested features**

- Lunar zodiac sign information
- Customizable widget options
- Offline mode for moon data
- Notifications for key moon events
- Integration with other astronomy apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mooncast free?

Mooncast costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Moon Phase & Widgets free?

Moon Phase & Widgets is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mooncast or Moon Phase & Widgets?

Mooncast is rated higher. Mooncast averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Moon Phase & Widgets averages 4.7 from 6.4K ratings.

### Do Mooncast or Moon Phase & Widgets have ads?

Neither Mooncast nor Moon Phase & Widgets shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mooncast or Moon Phase & Widgets?

Mooncast ships an update every 11 days, and Moon Phase & Widgets every 9 days. Most recently, Mooncast was updated on October 26, 2026 and Moon Phase & Widgets on October 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Mooncast or Moon Phase & Widgets?

Mooncast currently peaks at #86 in the App Store charts, and Moon Phase & Widgets at #41. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*