# SimpleMoon vs Sunbeam

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleMoon | Sunbeam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (302 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemoon-moon-phase/id518753922/reviews)** | [4.7 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunbeam-uv-index-tracker/id1448601833/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 302 | **1.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **86.1% of reviews** | 70.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 20 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tag Along K](https://appshunter.io/developer/716343859) | [Electric Acorn Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890746620) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleMoon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemoon-moon-phase/id518753922)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads from SimpleMoon | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Sunbeam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunbeam-uv-index-tracker/id1448601833)

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:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sunbeam Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Sunbeam Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


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