Aurora Compass vs Aurora Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Aurora alert notifications
- Geomagnetic activity tracking
- Aurora forecast map
- Real-time aurora probability
- Solar image animation
- Cloudiness forecast
- Darkness tool
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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
Aurora Tracker
This app provides real-time space weather data and an intelligent aurora probability score to help you track and forecast the northern lights. It features a live heatmap, detailed forecast charts, and viewing condition information.
- Real-time space weather dashboard
- Intelligent aurora probability score
- Live northern lights heatmap
- Detailed forecast charts
- Viewing condition analysis
- Educational guides on aurora science
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The most advanced aurora app on the market. Track aurora borealis like a pro. Aurora Tracker combines real-time space weather data with an intelligent aurora probability score and a live northern lights heatmap, giving you the most reliable aurora forecast right on your phone. REAL-TIME SPACE WEATHER DASHBOARD All essential aurora indicators at a glance: current KP index, solar wind speed, proton density, and the Bz and Bt magnetic field components from the DSCOVR satellite. Every metric is color-coded from green to red so you instantly understand geomagnetic conditions, whether you are a beginner or an experienced aurora hunter. SMART AURORA CHANCE SCORE Stop guessing and start knowing. Our algorithm evaluates six factors in real time (KP index, solar wind speed, Bz magnetic field strength, hemispheric auroral power, cloud coverage, and moon illumination) and calculates a single aurora probability percentage for your location. One number tells you if tonight is worth heading outside. LIVE AURORA HEATMAP A stunning interactive map overlay, powered by NOAA's Ovation Prime model, visualizes where the aurora oval is active right now. See northern lights probability across the entire globe and identify the best viewing regions at a glance. STORM ALERTS Get a push notification as soon as geomagnetic activity reaches your KP threshold, even when the app is closed. You choose the level, and you hear about the same storm at most once every four hours. SATELLITE CLOUD LAYER Show current satellite cloud images on the map with one tap and see at a glance where the sky is clear. 3D AURORA GLOBE Turn the map into a 3D globe with one tap and follow the aurora oval right up to the poles, with the night side shaded and the satellite cloud layer on top. DETAILED FORECAST CHARTS Plan your aurora observation sessions with comprehensive interactive charts: - KP index history over the last 48 hours - KP forecast for the coming hours - Daily maximum KP predictions - Solar wind speed and density trends across 7 days - Bz and Bt magnetic field timelines VIEWING CONDITIONS A clear, dark night sky is essential for spotting polar lights. Check moon phase, moon illumination percentage, and real-time cloud cover for your location. Aurora Tracker instantly tells you whether skies are favorable for aurora viewing tonight. LEARN ABOUT AURORA Built-in guides explain the science behind northern lights: how geomagnetic storms create aurora borealis, what solar wind metrics mean, and how the KP index works. Plus practical tips for aurora photography and night sky observation. TRUSTED DATA SOURCES Every measurement comes directly from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center and the DSCOVR satellite at Lagrange Point 1. Cloud data is provided by Open-Meteo. Scientific, real-time, and reliable. BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED - Elegant dark interface that preserves your night vision - Intuitive layout for both aurora beginners and seasoned chasers - Color-coded values for instant understanding - Free to use: ads help fund development; optional in-app purchase to remove ads Whether you are planning an aurora trip to Scandinavia, Iceland, or Canada, or simply want to know when northern lights might appear near your home, Aurora Tracker is the space weather companion you need. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula/ Download now and never miss the northern lights again.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Aurora Compass at 4.8 against Aurora Tracker's 4.0. Aurora Compass also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Aurora Tracker's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Aurora Compass sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Aurora Tracker sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Aurora Compass holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Aurora Compass's written reviews are positive against 100% of Aurora Tracker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Aurora Compass ships an update every 5 weeks, Aurora Tracker daily. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Aurora Compass | Aurora Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (9 ratings) — better | 4.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Otto Ranta-Ojala | Moritz Berger |
Customer experience
Aurora Compass
Aurora Tracker
In-app purchases
Aurora Compass
- Pastel Color Palette$1.99
- Black and White Palette$1.99
- Pink Color Palette$1.99
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- 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
Aurora Tracker
- Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
- Premium Yearly$17.991 Year
- Premium Lifetime$24.99
Questions
Is Aurora Compass free?
Is Aurora Tracker free?
Which has better reviews, Aurora Compass or Aurora Tracker?
Do Aurora Compass or Aurora Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Aurora Compass or Aurora Tracker?
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