MoonScope vs Moon Friend
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MoonScope
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Typically, a lunar calendar shows the phases of the moon at noon on that day, as viewed from the center of the Earth. As a result, the moon phase calendar does not usually take into account the observer's location or the time of observation, and it is normal for the moon's appearance in the sky to not match the actual moon phase in the sky. MoonWatch is an app whose primary goal is to recreate the moon as it actually appears in the sky when you look up at it. That means it accurately recreates the sky conditions (sunrise, sunset, tri-light) at that location and time, the phases of the moon, moonrise, moonset, and the angle of the moon as it changes over time in 3D space. This means that the moon on the screen will match the actual moon in the sky, which you can easily find by using the tracking function to adjust the angle of your iPhone or iPad. With a premium subscription, you can also easily find the moon's appearance in places other than your current location. Normally, the lunar calendar shows the phases of the moon at noon on that day, but you can also freely change the time to obtain the lunar phase. Enjoy this simple yet highly functional lunar calendar that flexibly responds to a variety of needs by accurately recreating the solar system in 3D space.
Moon Friend
Track lunar phases with astronomical accuracy and a touch of personality. Get daily messages from the moon, view rise/set times, and explore celestial events. Offers widgets and a time-travel calendar for planning.
- Astronomically accurate moon phases
- Daily moon messages with personality
- Home screen widgets
- Named moons and rare celestial events
- Real astronomy data (altitude, azimuth, zodiac)
- Time-travel calendar for past/future dates
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The moon has something to say. Are you listening? Moon Friend isn't your average phase tracker. It's astronomically accurate down to the minute, but it also has personality. Part celestial almanac, part tiny sarcastic friend who lives in the sky. What you get: Today's moon - See the current phase, illumination percentage, and exactly when the moon rises and sets where you are. Home screen widgets - Beautiful starry widgets that keep the moon close. Glance down and always know what phase you're in, and what the moon thinks about it. Daily moon messages - A fresh message every day, written in the moon's own voice. Introspective on a new moon. Chaotic on a full one. Always a little judgy. Named moons & rare events - Wolf Moon, Snow Moon, Strawberry Moon, Harvest Moon : all 13 traditional full moons, celebrated as they arrive. Plus Super Moons, Blue Moons, Black Moons, and Blood Moon eclipses (NASA-sourced through 2030). Real astronomy - Moon altitude, azimuth, perigee and apogee dates, and the zodiac sign the moon is traveling through all calculated for your exact location. Time-travel the calendar - Swipe through any date, past or future. Planning a full-moon hike or a new-moon reset? The moon's already on the schedule. The moon's been up there your whole life. Might as well be friends. https://mintzi.xyz/moonfriend/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Moon Friend at none against MoonScope's shown. Moon Friend also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, device support 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
Both are free to download. MoonScope sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Moon Friend sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MoonScope ships an update monthly, Moon Friend weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MoonScope | Moon Friend |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 161 MB | 220 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hajime Suzuki | Mintzi |
In-app purchases
MoonScope
- No Ads$4.99
Moon Friend
- Moon Friend Pro7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Moon Friend Pro (Lifetime)$5.99





