Comparison

Aurora Compass vs Aurora Forecast Now

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

Head to head
About

Aurora Compass

This app provides aurora forecasts and alerts, helping users find the best conditions to see the northern or southern lights. It offers detailed space weather data, real-time geomagnetic activity, and a cloudiness filter for accurate predictions.

Highlights
  • Aurora alert notifications
  • Geomagnetic activity tracking
  • Aurora forecast map
  • Real-time aurora probability
  • Solar image animation
  • Cloudiness forecast
  • Darkness tool
Features
Read full description

Aurora Compass is a free aurora and space weather forecast app with no ads or paywalls. With it, you'll get all the data you need to catch the northern or southern lights in a layout that’s simple for beginners, yet detailed for experienced aurora chasers. The main features include: • Aurora alert notifications with cloudiness filter • Near real-time geomagnetic activity from over 110 magnetometers • Aurora forecast map with observation sharing tool • Current and forecasted aurora probability in your location • Solar image animation with x-ray chart and solar regions • WSA-Enlil solar wind forecast animation • Darkness tool to see when it'll be dark • Moon rise, set and phase information • Cloudiness forecast • Solar wind charts • Kp forecasts • Color theme for people with red-green colorblindness

About

Aurora Forecast Now

Get personalized aurora visibility forecasts for any location worldwide. This app analyzes geomagnetic activity and local light conditions to tell you if the Northern Lights are visible right now or in the future. Premium features include a three-day advance forecast and historical geomagnetic data.

Highlights
  • Real-time aurora visibility for any location
  • Adjusts for local light conditions
  • Customized geomagnetic activity data
  • Three-day advance forecast (premium)
  • Hourly geomagnetic forecasts (premium)
  • Historical geomagnetic data
  • Rarity rating for geomagnetic activity
Features
Read full description

The only aurora app that will let you know whether you can see the aurora from wherever you are - or from any location you choose - at sea or on land - anywhere in the world. I wrote this app because I was disappointed that current aurora apps were not customised to match where I was right now. This is not just a summary of worldwide auroras, this is an aurora report customised for each location, including yours. • This app will tell you if the aurora is visible from your location - or any other you select - right now. • This app adjusts if your location skies may be too light - adjusts automatically for extreme locations in the North or South polar regions where the sun may not rise or set. This app warns you if the light may result in less than optimal viewing. • Adjusts viewing data for yours or any location you select based on the current strength of geomagnetic activity. • Premium users get a three day advance forecast as to whether the aurora is likely to be viewable at the selected location. • Premium users get three hourly future forecasts of geomagnetic activity. • Premium users get to see a graph of peaks and troughs of the 11 year geomagnetic cycle and where we are currently. • See Historic geomagnetic data for the last week and the peaks and troughs graphed for each day. • This app gives you a rarity rating so you know if the geomagnetic activity is higher than normal. I wrote this app for myself, and I am pleased to make it available to you as well. I’ve designed this app to be both educational and practical. I’ve learned a lot writing it and I hope you enjoy it too. Terms of Use : https://fascinatingprojects.com.au/termsaurora/

Screenshots

Aurora Compass4 screens
Aurora Forecast Now4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Aurora Compass at free against Aurora Forecast Now's freemium. Aurora Compass also leads on iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Aurora Compass sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Aurora Forecast Now sells 2 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Aurora Compass against 4.8 for Aurora Forecast Now. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 6 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Compass ships an update every 5 weeks, Aurora Forecast Now monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Aurora Compass versus Aurora Forecast Now: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora CompassAurora Forecast Now
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (9 ratings)4.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOtto Ranta-OjalaFascinating Projects

Customer experience

Aurora Compass

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

Aurora Forecast Now

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Aurora Compass

One-time8
  • Pastel Color Palette$1.99
  • Black and White Palette$1.99
  • Pink Color Palette$1.99
Show 5 more
  • Purple Color Palette$1.99
  • IBM Color Palette$1.99
  • Mint Color Palette$4.99
  • Gold Color Palette$9.99
  • Diamond Color Palette$29.99
2 purchases

Aurora Forecast Now

Subscriptions2
  • Aurora Weekly Subscription$4.997 Days
  • Aurora Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Aurora Compass free?
Aurora Compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aurora Forecast Now free?
Aurora Forecast Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Aurora Compass or Aurora Forecast Now?
Aurora Forecast Now is rated higher. Aurora Compass averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Aurora Forecast Now averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.
Do Aurora Compass or Aurora Forecast Now have ads?
Neither Aurora Compass nor Aurora Forecast Now shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Compass or Aurora Forecast Now?
Aurora Compass ships an update every 5 weeks, and Aurora Forecast Now monthly. Most recently, Aurora Compass was updated on November 7, 2026 and Aurora Forecast Now on November 8, 2026.

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