Comparison

Sunset Check vs GoldenHour

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

Head to head
About

Sunset Check

This app forecasts the quality of daily sun events, helping photographers, travelers, and nature lovers capture perfect sunrises and sunsets. It provides global location search, a quality rating system, and optimal viewing windows for breathtaking moments.

Highlights
  • Global location search
  • Sun event quality rating
  • Optimal viewing window prediction
  • 7-day forecast
  • Real-time weather
  • Webcam access
  • Sun direction map
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Sunset Check – your personal assistant for capturing the perfect sunrise and sunset. Whether you’re a photographer, traveler, or nature lover, our innovative app uses a custom algorithm to forecast the quality of daily sun events, ensuring you never miss a breathtaking moment. Key Features:
 • Global Location Search: Easily find the best spots around the world. 
• Quality Rating System: Know exactly when conditions are ideal.
• Optimal Viewing Window: Catch the enchanting blue and golden hours.
 • 7-Day Weekly Forecast: Plan your week around stunning sunrises and sunsets.
 • Real-Time Weather Conditions: Stay informed with up-to-date forecasts.
 • Access to webcams that are near your location, allowing you to see real-time weather conditions. • A map view that displays the sun's direction, indicating where the sun will rise and set. • Alternate Layouts: Choose your viewing experience for maximum clarity.
 • Favorites & Default Location: Save your favorite spots for quick access every time. Perfect for: • Photographers – Capture breathtaking golden hour shots. • Travelers – Plan the perfect sunset views for your next adventure. • Outdoor Enthusiasts – Never miss a magical moment in nature. • Download Sunset Check now and transform the way you experience the sky! • Set your alerts, find the best locations, and capture stunning sunsets with confidence! Designed & Built in California

About

GoldenHour

This app helps photographers and outdoor enthusiasts find the best light for capturing sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and blue hour. It provides precise timing, sky quality forecasts, and planning tools to ensure you never miss the perfect moment.

Highlights
  • Sunrise & sunset timing
  • Golden hour & blue hour prediction
  • Sky quality forecast
  • Location-based planning
  • AR sun path visualization
  • Customizable alerts
  • Home & Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

The best light of the day lasts minutes. GoldenHour makes sure you're there for it. GoldenHour is your daily sun companion - built for photographers, creators, travelers, and anyone who wants to catch sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and blue hour at the perfect moment. Get precise times for your location, a smart sky-quality forecast, and the advanced tools to plan around the light before it fades. WHY GOLDENHOUR Know the Peaks: Track exactly when the light is best - sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and blue hour. Sky Quality Forecast: Instantly see if today's sky is worth stepping outside for. Smart Reminders: Get notified before the magic happens, not after it's gone. Plan Anywhere: Scope out locations worldwide, save favorite spots, and plan from wherever you are. PLAN AROUND THE LIGHT Solar Timeline: A beautiful, dynamic day timeline with key solar milestones. Predictive Forecasts: Hyper-accurate sunset and sunrise quality scores. Sun Direction Map: See exactly where the sun will rise and set on a map. Building Shadow Map: Watch light and shade move across real streets and buildings, then pick your spot before you shoot. Visible Sunset Times: See when nearby hills hide the sun from your spot - not only the official time on the clock. AR Sun Path: Hold up your phone to see the sun's exact trajectory in Augmented Reality. Multi-Day Planning: Find the absolute best morning or evening for shooting this week. NEVER MISS THE MOMENT Custom Alerts: Tailored notifications before sunset or your favorite light phase. Routine Alarms: Sunrise and sunset alarms designed to fit your daily routine. Ask Siri: Check sunset time, sky quality, and how long you have - without opening the app. Premium Widgets: Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center with live sun tracking. Live Activities: Real-time countdowns on Lock Screen and Dynamic Island for upcoming golden hours. Apple Watch: Next light, timeline, and sky quality on your wrist. CAPTURE AND REMEMBER Personal Sky Gallery: Save your own sunset photos in a Journal, with a calendar and insights from your moments. Track Memories: Keep your best captures organized in one beautiful place, privately synced with iCloud. Share the Light: Export and share stunning, personalized sun cards with friends. BUILT FOR REAL LIFE Whether you're scouting a professional photo shoot, choosing the most scenic walk home, traveling to a brand-new city, or just stepping outside for five minutes of calm - GoldenHour gives you the timing, context, and perfect nudge you need. It's on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. Download GoldenHour today and make the most of every sunset. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://jet-fang-e75.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-392575725a2080f0a8a7ef270167c22e

Screenshots

Sunset Check4 screens
GoldenHour4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sunset Check at 4.7 against GoldenHour's 3.9. Sunset Check also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). GoldenHour's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement 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. GoldenHour sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Sunset Check asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sunset Check holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Sunset Check's written reviews are positive against 100% of GoldenHour's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sunset Check ships an update every 2 months, GoldenHour weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sunset Check versus GoldenHour: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSunset CheckGoldenHour
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (6 ratings) — better3.9 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings69 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB111 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDarin TangKoren Salav

Customer experience

Sunset Check

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%

GoldenHour

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sunset Check

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

GoldenHour

Subscriptions3
  • GoldenHour Plus Monthly$3.991 Month
  • GoldenHour Plus Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • GoldenHour Plus Yearly WinBack1 Year trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • GoldenHour Plus Lifetime$34.99

Questions

Is Sunset Check free?
Sunset Check is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GoldenHour free?
GoldenHour is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sunset Check or GoldenHour?
Sunset Check is rated higher. Sunset Check averages 4.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while GoldenHour averages 3.9 from 9 ratings.
Do Sunset Check or GoldenHour have ads?
Neither Sunset Check nor GoldenHour shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sunset Check or GoldenHour?
Sunset Check ships an update every 2 months, and GoldenHour weekly. Most recently, Sunset Check was updated on September 30, 2026 and GoldenHour on October 14, 2026.

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