Comparison

Aurora Notifier vs Aurora Watch Global

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

Head to head
About

Aurora Notifier

Receive alerts for potential aurora sightings with configurable thresholds for Kp-index and solar wind parameters. See user-submitted photos and real-time observation locations on a 3D globe. A premium version offers advanced technical data and hidden features.

Highlights
  • Aurora sighting notifications
  • Configurable alert thresholds
  • User-submitted aurora photos
  • Real-time observation map
  • Kp-index and solar wind data
  • Premium version with advanced features
Features
Read full description

Aurora notification app with observation reports. Finally available for iOS. This aurora notification app shows notifications when it may be possible to see the northern lights (aurora borealis / australis)! It provides configurable thresholds for local aurora probability, Kp-index (Hp30), solar wind parameters (Bz/Bt) and Kp-level forecast for the evening. It also allows you to be alerted when other app users nearby have seen the aurora light display. For the alert feature to work, other app users register aurora reports when they are successful hunting and get to see the aurora light display. This has proven to be quite successful. Many of the app users also upload pictures of northern lights when they see them, and in this app you can see these pictures. You can also see dots on a 3d-globe animation showing where people have just observed the light show. There are users in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand who regularly report their observations and upload pictures. Although the chances are greater if you live in Alaska, northern Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the southern tip of New Zealand etc, there are also regular opportunities in places like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Montana, Michigan, Chicago, New York, Scotland, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Baltics etc. The premium version which can be bought within the app itself offers some more technical information and graphs of Kp-index predictions, cloud cover and solar wind parameters - and some hidden features. The app has an associated X account (@aurora_notifier - https://x.com/aurora_notifier) and an Instagram account (@auroranotifierapp - https://www.instagram.com/auroranotifierapp). Consider following those.

About

Aurora Watch Global

Track auroras worldwide with forecasts, real-time space weather, and local conditions. Plan your viewing or learn about celestial events with interactive maps and detailed data.

Highlights
  • Global aurora forecasts and interactive maps
  • Real-time KP index and space weather data
  • Solar imagery and flare probabilities
  • Local weather conditions and forecasts
  • Offline dashboard with cached data
  • Educational guides on auroras and space weather
Features
Read full description

Track the Northern and Southern Lights in real time - wherever you are. AuroraWatch is a free, ad-free app that brings together NOAA's OVATION aurora model, real-time KP index readings, live solar wind data from NOAA SWPC, and your local cloud cover into one clear view. No clutter, no ads, no guesswork - just the data you need to know when the sky might put on a show. WHY AURORAWATCH Most aurora apps only cover the Northern Hemisphere. AuroraWatch tracks both the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis, so whether you're chasing lights in Norway, Alaska, Tasmania, or New Zealand, you get the same real-time data. FREE FOR EVERYONE • Interactive aurora activity map using NOAA's OVATION model • Real-time KP index • Live solar wind data from NOAA SWPC (density, speed, Bz) • Local cloud cover and moon illumination, so you know if you'll actually see anything • Substorm Monitor (Beta) - live USGS magnetometer readings for aurora burst timing • Solar flare probabilities • Live SDO solar imagery • Ask Siri about tonight's aurora chances • Customizable push notifications GO PRO Upgrade for deeper data and always-on visibility: • AI summaries on the KP and Solar Wind screens - written privately on your iPhone with Apple Intelligence where available • Live Activity on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island - KP, solar wind, Bz, and cloud cover at a glance • Home Screen widgets for KP, cloud cover, solar wind, and a short forecast • Apple Watch dashboard with KP, weather, upcoming changes, and solar wind • Aurora Now alerts when aurora may be visible in your area • Minute-resolution KP charts, a 45-day Ap outlook, GOES X-ray history, and a full solar event log • 48-hour solar wind history with interactive charts and date scrubbing • Three premium themes - Northern Lights, Eclipse, and Storm Pro is available as a weekly, monthly, or annual auto-renewing subscription. Cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. BUILT ON REAL DATA AuroraWatch pulls directly from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, and USGS magnetometers - the same sources space weather scientists use - and refreshes automatically so you're always looking at current conditions, not stale forecasts. Download AuroraWatch and never miss a night the sky lights up. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS - AuroraWatch Pro Pricing: AuroraWatch Pro (Weekly): $2.99/week (or your local price) AuroraWatch Pro (Monthly) $4.99/month (or your local price) AuroraWatch Pro (Yearly) $29.99/year (or your local price) 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. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://aurorawatch.app/privacy Terms of Use (Apple): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Use: (AuroraWatch): https://aurorawatch.app/terms/

Screenshots

Aurora Notifier3 screens
Aurora Watch Global4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Aurora Watch Global at 5.0 against Aurora Notifier's 4.5. Aurora Watch Global also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Aurora Notifier's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). 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 Notifier sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Aurora Watch Global sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Aurora Watch Global holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aurora Notifier has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Notifier ships an update every 5 days, Aurora Watch Global every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Aurora Notifier versus Aurora Watch Global: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora NotifierAurora Watch Global
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (6 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNaturfakta ASGILBY SHEPHERD

Customer experience

Aurora Notifier

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

Aurora Watch Global

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Aurora Notifier

One-time2
  • Premium upgrade$2.99
  • Premium$3.99
3 purchases

Aurora Watch Global

Subscriptions3
  • Pro Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Aurora Notifier free?
Aurora Notifier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aurora Watch Global free?
Aurora Watch Global is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Aurora Notifier or Aurora Watch Global?
Aurora Watch Global is rated higher. Aurora Notifier averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Aurora Watch Global averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Aurora Notifier or Aurora Watch Global have ads?
Neither Aurora Notifier nor Aurora Watch Global shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Notifier or Aurora Watch Global?
Aurora Notifier ships an update every 5 days, and Aurora Watch Global every 6 weeks. Most recently, Aurora Notifier was updated on October 24, 2026 and Aurora Watch Global on October 28, 2026.

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