# Magic Hour vs Sunrise, Sunset

The clearest difference is rating: Magic Hour at 4.8 against Sunrise, Sunset's 3.3. Magic Hour also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (77% vs 50%). Sunrise, Sunset's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Magic Hour sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sunrise, Sunset sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Magic Hour holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic Hour has 5.2K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Magic Hour's written reviews are positive against 50% of Sunrise, Sunset's.

Magic Hour ships an update every 2 months, Sunrise, Sunset every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic Hour | Sunrise, Sunset |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-hour/id482426006/reviews)** | [3.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrise-sunset/id940344765/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.2K** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | **76.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Linda Byrket](https://appshunter.io/developer/482426309) | [Oceano Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/940344764) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic Hour

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-hour/id482426006)

This app helps photographers and cinematographers find the optimal times for shooting around sunrise and sunset. It provides precise calculations for 'magic hour' based on your location and offers moon phase information. Optional in-app purchases unlock advanced features like location selection and calendar integration.

**Highlights:** Magic hour time calculation, Sunrise and sunset times, Moonrise and full moon alerts, Weather forecast integration, Customizable notifications, Location-based planning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Add Locations Ability | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great overview of the entire Magic Hour
- 👍 Fantastic in every way
- 👍 All the info you need to plan, especially for photographers
- 👍 Sleek and easy to use
- 👍 Perfect for photographers and cinematographers

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏰ Time way off
- 🔍 Can't change location
- 🐛 Crashes all the time
- 💰 Forced in-app purchase
- 🔍 Can't see future dates anymore

**Reported bugs**

- 🐛 Time way off
- 🐛 Can't change location
- 🐛 Crashes all the time
- 🐛 Can't see future dates anymore
- 🐛 Widget doesn't update

**Requested features**

- 💡 Moonrise notification
- 💡 Notification when magic hour ends
- 💡 Blue hour option
- 💡 Allow users to set their own background photo
- 💡 Ability to plan shoots in different locations


### Sunrise, Sunset

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrise-sunset/id940344765)

This app displays the precise times and directions of sunrise and sunset based on your current location and elevation. It also provides detailed information about the moon, including its phase, rise and set times, and illumination.

**Highlights:** Sunrise and sunset times and direction, Moon phase, rise, and set times, Twilight times (civil, nautical, astronomical), Elevation data integration, Location-based information, Date and time manipulation for planning, Apple Watch app and complications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Ad-Free | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic Hour free?

Magic Hour is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Sunrise, Sunset free?

Sunrise, Sunset is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Magic Hour or Sunrise, Sunset?

Magic Hour is rated higher. Magic Hour averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.2K ratings, while Sunrise, Sunset averages 3.3 from 20 ratings.

### Do Magic Hour or Sunrise, Sunset have ads?

Sunrise, Sunset shows ads; Magic Hour does not.

### Which is updated more often, Magic Hour or Sunrise, Sunset?

Magic Hour ships an update every 2 months, and Sunrise, Sunset every 3 days. Most recently, Magic Hour was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sunrise, Sunset on September 20, 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.*