Comparison

Aurora Notifier vs Aurora Forecast

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 Forecast

Track the Northern Lights with real-time forecasts and smart alerts. Get detailed information on aurora activity, KP index, and visibility for your location, helping you plan the perfect viewing experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time aurora forecasts
  • Location-based predictions
  • KP index and cloud cover data
  • Customizable aurora alerts
  • Global aurora map
  • Aurora viewing tips
Features
Read full description

Spot Northern Lights easily with Aurora Forecast App. This app gives you everything you need to know. When, where, and how likely you are to see the aurora, wherever you are in the world. Whether you’re chasing the aurora in Iceland, hoping for a rare display in your hometown, or planning a photography trip to the Arctic Circle, this app keeps you fully prepared with accurate, real-time forecasts and smart alerts. - Real-time aurora forecasts tailored to your location - Live KP index, cloud cover, and visibility data - Solar wind stats ands more - Customizable alerts when aurora activity is expected near you - Forecasts for the future - Global aurora map - Aurora viewing tips and best current locations - Simple, sleek design Built for travelers, photographers, and anyone who doesn’t want to miss the next aurora, this app helps you stay one step ahead and catch the magic when it happens. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CYJ_YEK2fZHzfMJntkommHBqIdkYoGnQ2lnCUt52C88/ Terms of Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MvMhZJsr14RA3JatJtIHj-GpTCITxJ1a7NMfelop3wk/

Screenshots

Aurora Notifier3 screens
Aurora Forecast4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Aurora Forecast at 50% against Aurora Notifier's 0%. Aurora Forecast also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (78 vs 6). Aurora Notifier's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Forecast sells 6 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

Aurora Forecast holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aurora Forecast has 78 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Aurora Notifier's written reviews are positive against 50% of Aurora Forecast's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Notifier ships an update every 5 days, Aurora Forecast monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Aurora Notifier versus Aurora Forecast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora NotifierAurora Forecast
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (6 ratings)4.7 (78 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings678 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#79 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNaturfakta ASAppelio

Customer experience

Aurora Notifier

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

Aurora Forecast

All ratings78 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral5.1%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Aurora Notifier

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

Aurora Forecast

Subscriptions5
  • Aurora Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Aurora Weekly Free Trial7 Days trial2 variants$9.997 Days
  • Aurora Yearly Free Trial3 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Aurora Yearly Free Trial7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Aurora Forecast Yearly$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Northern Lights Tracker$19.99

Questions

Is Aurora Notifier free?
Aurora Notifier is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aurora Forecast free?
Aurora Forecast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Aurora Notifier or Aurora Forecast?
Aurora Forecast is rated higher. Aurora Notifier averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Aurora Forecast averages 4.7 from 78 ratings.
Do Aurora Notifier or Aurora Forecast have ads?
Neither Aurora Notifier nor Aurora Forecast shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Notifier or Aurora Forecast?
Aurora Notifier ships an update every 5 days, and Aurora Forecast monthly. Most recently, Aurora Notifier was updated on September 13, 2026 and Aurora Forecast on September 16, 2026.

Other comparisons