Comparison

Aurora Compass vs Hotspot Earth

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

Hotspot Earth

Features
Read full description

Hotspot Earth - The Hottest Point on Earth, Right Now Where on Earth is it hottest right now? Hotspot Earth shows you in seconds. This single-purpose app monitors the world's most extreme heat locations - from the Lut Desert and Death Valley to the Sahara, Persian Gulf, and South Asian heat belts - and pinpoints whichever is hottest at this moment on a beautiful 3D satellite map. WHAT YOU CAN DO ° See the hottest place on Earth in seconds ° Discover the world's top 10 hottest places ° Watch the stunning heat map cover the earth ° Make it part of your day with widgets ° Share what you find WHY HOTSPOT EARTH? Heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting. Records that once stood for decades are now broken multiple times per decade. Hotspot Earth turns abstract climate data into a daily, glanceable experience - a window into where Earth's heat is concentrating today. Whether you're a weather enthusiast, climate-curious, traveler, or just love seeing extreme records, Hotspot Earth makes the planet's heat tangible. ONE THING, DONE WELL No accounts. No ads. No clutter. Just the hottest point on Earth, beautifully presented. SUBSCRIPTION PLANS: Hotspot Earth offers 1 subscription plan and 1 in-app-purchase which unlock Pro Mode to access all content. 1. Monthly Plan 2. Lifetime Purchase More Subscription Information: - Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, the account will be charged for the renewal of the subscription, indicating the cost of the renewal. - You can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal after purchase by going to your App Store account settings. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription. https://www.brainfevermedia.com/privacyPolicy.html https://www.brainfevermedia.com/terms.html

Screenshots

Aurora Compass4 screens
Hotspot Earth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hotspot Earth at weekly against Aurora Compass's every 5 weeks. Aurora Compass's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 26.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Aurora Compass sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Hotspot Earth sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Compass ships an update every 5 weeks, Hotspot Earth weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Aurora Compass versus Hotspot Earth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora CompassHotspot Earth
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOtto Ranta-OjalaJames Grote

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

Hotspot Earth

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$19.99

Questions

Is Aurora Compass free?
Aurora Compass is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hotspot Earth free?
Hotspot Earth is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Aurora Compass or Hotspot Earth have ads?
Neither Aurora Compass nor Hotspot Earth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Compass or Hotspot Earth?
Aurora Compass ships an update every 5 weeks, and Hotspot Earth weekly. Most recently, Aurora Compass was updated on November 12, 2026 and Hotspot Earth on November 5, 2026.

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