# Northern Lights Tracker vs Aurora Forecast Now

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Northern Lights Tracker at 191 against Aurora Forecast Now's 6. Northern Lights Tracker also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Northern Lights Tracker sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days 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.

Aurora Forecast Now holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Northern Lights Tracker has 191 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Northern Lights Tracker ships an update every 3 weeks, Aurora Forecast Now monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Northern Lights Tracker | Aurora Forecast Now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (191 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northern-lights-tracker/id6569249780/reviews) | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-now/id6740797529/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **191** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 62.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 50 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mehmet Ali Demir](https://appshunter.io/developer/1631537417) | [Fascinating Projects](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689975869) |

## What reviewers say

### Northern Lights Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northern-lights-tracker/id6569249780)

This app provides real-time predictions and forecasts for the aurora borealis using NOAA space weather data. It helps users find the best viewing locations and times, offering smart alerts and interactive maps for an optimal aurora hunting experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time aurora probability, NOAA-powered KP index, Interactive global aurora maps, Best viewing location recommendations, Space weather data monitoring, Smart aurora alerts, Apple Watch integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| week | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| month | $5.99 | per month |
| year | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for tracking trips
- 👍 Good for Aurora tracking
- 👍 Accurate for location
- 👍 Helps plan trips
- 👍 User-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Not free, useless without payment
- 🐛 App crashes
- 💸 Misleading pricing, charged unexpectedly
- 🐛 Notifications are bogus/inaccurate
- 🐛 Enable Notifications shuts off

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes out of nowhere
- Phone part of app shows 0%
- Enable Notifications continuously shuts itself OFF
- Data seems outdated and freezes
- App crashes in Norway

**Requested features**

- Add widgets
- Correlate probability to times
- Show probability over time (next 24 hours)
- Allow setting threshold for 'good chance' notifications
- Show readings for around the world


### Aurora Forecast Now

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-forecast-now/id6740797529)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aurora Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Aurora Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Northern Lights Tracker free?

Northern Lights Tracker 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, Northern Lights Tracker or Aurora Forecast Now?

Aurora Forecast Now is rated higher. Northern Lights Tracker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 191 ratings, while Aurora Forecast Now averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.

### Do Northern Lights Tracker or Aurora Forecast Now have ads?

Neither Northern Lights Tracker nor Aurora Forecast Now shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Northern Lights Tracker or Aurora Forecast Now?

Northern Lights Tracker ships an update every 3 weeks, and Aurora Forecast Now monthly. Most recently, Northern Lights Tracker was updated on October 30, 2026 and Aurora Forecast Now on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*