# MOON vs Moon Phase & Widgets

The clearest difference is monetization model: MOON at free with in-app purchases against Moon Phase & Widgets's subscription. MOON also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 68%) and ratings volume (30K vs 6.4K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MOON sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per year and Moon Phase & Widgets sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for MOON against 4.7 for Moon Phase & Widgets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30K and 6.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of MOON's written reviews are positive against 68% of Moon Phase & Widgets's.

MOON ships an update weekly, Moon Phase & Widgets every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MOON | Moon Phase & Widgets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-current-moon-phase/id660036257/reviews)** | [4.7 (6.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-phase-and-widgets-lunar/id1141720421/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **30K** | 6.4K |
| Positive reviews | **85.4% of reviews** | 68.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | #65 |
| Size | 143 MB | 249 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MOON CALENDAR](https://appshunter.io/developer/1709661622) | [Bjorn Jenssen](https://appshunter.io/developer/590354152) |

## What reviewers say

### MOON

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-current-moon-phase/id660036257)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Free · Weather, #64 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Track lunar cycles with this comprehensive moon phase calendar. Get notifications for key events, view moon phases for any date, and share lunar imagery with friends. Features offline access and home screen widgets.

**Highlights:** Current moon phase viewing, Lunar event notifications, Home screen widget, Moon phase lookup for any date, Social sharing of moon imagery, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MOON Pro Yearly (NT) | $11.99 | per year |
| MOON Pro Yearly | $11.99 | per year |
| MOON Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| MOON Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| MOON Limited Time Offer | $19.99 | per year |
| MOON Pro Yearly 50% Off | $19.99 | per year |
| MOON Pro (Yearly) | $24.99 | per year |
| MOON Pro (Yearly NT) | $24.99 | per year |
| MOON Ambassador | $4.99 | one-time |
| MOON Supporter | $9.99 | one-time |
| MOON Patron | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Gorgeous design
- 👍 Accurate moon phase tracking
- 💡 Quirky notification messages
- 🎨 Beautiful widget
- 🙂 Calming and peaceful

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lacking additional moon-related features
- 💰 Subscription model for some features
- 🔊 Loud notification sounds
- 🌍 Not optimized for Southern Hemisphere

**Reported bugs**

- Widget not working for some users
- Moon phase information inaccurate on certain dates

**Requested features**

- Add moon rise and set times
- Include information on lunar events like eclipses
- Allow customization of notification sounds
- Provide Southern Hemisphere moon phase view


### Moon Phase & Widgets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moon-phase-and-widgets-lunar/id1141720421)

**Currently charting:** #65 Top Free · Weather, #76 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Track the current moon phase, moonrise/moonset times, and celestial events with stunning accuracy. Explore past and future lunar data, illumination, and zodiac signs. Personalize your device with interactive widgets and receive timely notifications.

**Highlights:** Current moon phase tracking, Moonrise and moonset times, Full Moon, New Moon, and Eclipse alerts, Real-time 3D Moon rendering, Home and Lock Screen widgets, Lunar Zodiac sign information, Apple Watch integration

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Version Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro Version Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Lunar Phase Widget Pro | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌙 Beautiful moon phase display
- 📊 Comprehensive moon data
- 🔍 Accurate moon tracking
- 🎨 Elegant and intuitive interface
- 🕰️ Helpful moon rise/set times

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for key features like widgets
- 🤔 Confusing transition to paid model
- 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies in moon phase data
- 🤖 Issues with app and widget compatibility
- 🔄 Slow or inconsistent app updates

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect waxing/waning moon display
- Widget disappearing or not working
- Calendar dates not syncing correctly
- App crashes or freezes on launch

**Requested features**

- Lunar zodiac sign information
- Customizable widget options
- Offline mode for moon data
- Notifications for key moon events
- Integration with other astronomy apps


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MOON free?

MOON is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Moon Phase & Widgets free?

Moon Phase & Widgets is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MOON or Moon Phase & Widgets?

MOON is rated higher. MOON averages 4.8 out of 5 from 30K ratings, while Moon Phase & Widgets averages 4.7 from 6.4K ratings.

### Do MOON or Moon Phase & Widgets have ads?

Neither MOON nor Moon Phase & Widgets shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MOON or Moon Phase & Widgets?

MOON ships an update weekly, and Moon Phase & Widgets every 9 days. Most recently, MOON was updated on October 28, 2026 and Moon Phase & Widgets on October 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, MOON or Moon Phase & Widgets?

MOON currently peaks at #19 in the App Store charts, and Moon Phase & Widgets at #65. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*