Comparison

SimpleMoon vs Sunbeam

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

Head to head
About

SimpleMoon

Get accurate, real-time moon phase and illumination information for any day. Easily navigate through dates and view the moon's appearance for your specific hemisphere. The app works offline and provides upcoming full and new moon dates.

Highlights
  • Real-time moon phase and illumination
  • Date navigation and calendar selection
  • Offline functionality
  • Hemisphere-specific moon views
  • Next full and new moon dates
Features
Read full description

SimpleMoon provides a simple, elegant view of one thing: the moon phase and illumination for today (or any day you choose). SimpleMoon also shows you when the next full moon and new moon will occur from the "Today" view. So easy to use Tap the navigation buttons at the top or swipe to move between days. Use the calendar icon at the bottom to choose what date you want to see the moon view and illumination. Reliable and accurate SimpleMoon uses advanced mathematical calculations to determine the moon data for that day. It works even if you don't have an internet connection! Northern or Southern Hemisphere Did you know that the moon looks different depending on which hemisphere of the earth you are in? Go to Settings and pick which hemisphere you are in, and you will see the moon as it appears to you in the sky. Special thanks to my children, Alexander and Sophia who helped me design and test the app.

About

Sunbeam

This app provides real-time UV Index forecasts and personalized sun exposure tracking. It helps users avoid sunburn, monitor time spent in daylight, and estimate Vitamin D levels. Features include widgets, Apple Watch integration, and Apple Health syncing.

Highlights
  • Worldwide UV Index forecasts
  • Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets
  • Apple Watch app with complications
  • Apple Health integration
  • Personalized sunburn risk tracking
  • Live Activities for Lock Screen
  • Extended 10-day UV forecasts
Features
Read full description

Stay safe in the sun with accurate UV forecasts, personalized exposure insights, and smart tools for Time in Daylight and Vitamin D across iPhone and Apple Watch. Trusted by thousands worldwide, Sunbeam helps you know when UV levels are high, reduce your risk of sunburn, and make more confident decisions about time outdoors. Check the UV Index in seconds, track your sun exposure, and better understand how sunlight fits into your health and daily routine. Why people choose Sunbeam: - Know when to protect your skin: See accurate UV forecasts for your current location or anywhere you travel. - Reduce your risk of sunburn: Understand when UV levels are high and track your personalized sunburn risk over time. - Understand your sun exposure: Monitor Time in Daylight, Vitamin D, and exposure history with simple, useful insights. - Plan outdoor time more easily: View hourly UV forecasts for the next 10 days across your favorite locations around the world. - Beautiful widgets: Check UV forecasts, Vitamin D, and Time in Daylight right on your Home Screen or Lock Screen. - Live Activities: Track sun exposure sessions in real time from your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. - Full Apple Watch support: Use the Apple Watch app and complications to stay informed in the sun wherever you are. - Siri and Shortcuts support: Check the UV, start an exposure session, view your sun exposure, and more with best-in-class iOS integrations. - Make your health data more useful: Sync Time in Daylight and Vitamin D with Apple Health. - Choose a privacy-first app: Your data stays yours. Sunbeam never sells your data or uses it for targeted ads. Whether you want to protect your skin, spend more time outdoors with confidence, or build a better understanding of your daily sunlight exposure, Sunbeam helps you make smarter decisions in the sun. Certain features require a Sunbeam Pro subscription. ========================= If you purchase a Sunbeam Pro subscription, payment will be charged to your Apple ID Account. You will be automatically charged for renewal unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can turn off auto-renew at any time by going to your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. All purchases are final and refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term. Privacy Policy: https://richardj.org/sunbeam/privacy-policy/ Terms and Conditions: https://richardj.org/sunbeam/terms-and-conditions/ =========================

Screenshots

SimpleMoon4 screens
Sunbeam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Sunbeam at none against SimpleMoon's shown. Sunbeam also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 302). SimpleMoon's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 70%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. SimpleMoon sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sunbeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SimpleMoon holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sunbeam has 1.7K ratings behind it against 302, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of SimpleMoon's written reviews are positive against 70% of Sunbeam's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SimpleMoon ships an update every 5 months, Sunbeam every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SimpleMoon versus Sunbeam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimpleMoonSunbeam
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (302 ratings) — better4.7 (1.7K ratings)
Positive reviews86.1% of reviews — better70.1% of reviews
Number of ratings3021.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB113 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTag Along KElectric Acorn Ltd

Customer experience

SimpleMoon

All ratings302 ratings
Positive98.0%
Neutral1.3%
Negative0.7%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive86.1%
Neutral2.8%
Negative11.1%

Sunbeam

All ratings1,689 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.1%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews107 reviews
Positive70.1%
Neutral9.3%
Negative20.6%

User reviews

SimpleMoon

From 302 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 🌕 Accurate moon phases
  • 🖼️ Beautiful moon visuals
  • 💡 Ability to check past and future dates
  • 📱 Responsive developer

Room to improve

  • ⚠️ Unwanted adult content
  • 🚫 Missing key information (rise/set times)
  • 🖥️ No widget available
  • 🤔 Limited features for some users
  • 🧭 Location not always requested/used

Sunbeam

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate UV tracking
  • 👍 Helpful for planning sun exposure
  • 🌞 Useful for tanning and vitamin D generation
  • 🔒 Respects user privacy
  • 📊 Provides detailed hourly and daily UV forecasts

Room to improve

  • 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and connectivity issues
  • 📍 Difficulty setting custom location
  • 🔋 High battery consumption for some users

Bugs and requests

SimpleMoon

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Adult content appearing unexpectedly
  • Moon phase accuracy issues reported
  • App not rotating on iPads (resolved)
  • Displays (null)% and black moon

Requested features

8 requests
  • Include moon rise and set times
  • Add a widget for quick overview
  • Allow dragging to scroll through dates
  • App icon showing current moon phase
  • Southern Hemisphere option
Show 3 more
  • Ability to browse history/past dates
  • Display date, time, and location
  • Improve accuracy of moon phases

Sunbeam

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Widget not working for some users
  • UV data not updating correctly in certain locations
  • Vitamin D tab not functioning as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Integration with Apple Health for better vitamin D tracking
  • Customizable sun exposure timers and alarms
  • Historical data and exposure tracking
  • More detailed skin type and sunscreen recommendations

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SimpleMoon

One-time1
  • Remove Ads from SimpleMoon$0.99
2 purchases

Sunbeam

Subscriptions2
  • Sunbeam Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Sunbeam Pro Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is SimpleMoon free?
SimpleMoon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sunbeam free?
Sunbeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SimpleMoon or Sunbeam?
SimpleMoon is rated higher. SimpleMoon averages 4.9 out of 5 from 302 ratings, while Sunbeam averages 4.7 from 1.7K ratings.
Do SimpleMoon or Sunbeam have ads?
SimpleMoon shows ads; Sunbeam does not.
Which is updated more often, SimpleMoon or Sunbeam?
SimpleMoon ships an update every 5 months, and Sunbeam every 4 weeks. Most recently, SimpleMoon was updated on September 22, 2026 and Sunbeam on September 24, 2026.

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