Comparison

Aurora Watcher 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 Watcher

This app helps you find and track the Northern Lights in Canada. It provides real-time aurora observability, forecasts for cities, and global geomagnetic activity. An interactive map shows the best viewing locations worldwide.

Highlights
  • Real-time aurora observability
  • City-specific aurora forecasts
  • Global geomagnetic activity tracking
  • Detailed sky and weather conditions
  • Interactive viewing location map
Read full description

Aurora Watcher is your all-in-one guide for chasing the Northern Lights in Canada. Check real-time aurora observability and forecast for individual cities, track global geomagnetic activity, and explore detailed sky and weather conditions. Use the interactive map to instantly find the best viewing locations near you — or anywhere in the world. Whether you're an enthusiast, a traveller, or a seasoned aurora hunter, Aurora Watcher keeps you one step ahead of the sky.

About

Aurora Forecast

This app provides clear, plain-language forecasts and real-time alerts for the Northern Lights. It interprets complex space weather data to tell you if it's worth looking up tonight and notifies you when the aurora is likely overhead.

Highlights
  • Plain-language aurora chance reading
  • Real-time alerts for likely overhead aurora
  • 3-day Kp outlook and solar-wind snapshot
  • Dark aurora map with live oval display
  • Aurora sighting log and photo diary
  • Plain-English explainers for aurora phenomena
Features
Read full description

The night the aurora finally reaches your sky, you don't want to hear about it the next morning. Aurora Forecast: Borealis tells you — in plain language — whether it's worth stepping outside tonight, and alerts you the moment the lights are likely overhead and the sky is dark where you are. If you've ever chased the northern lights, you know the routine: a dozen browser tabs, a "Kp" number that means nothing without a decoder ring, three apps that disagree, and the quiet fear that the best display of the year happened while you were inside. Most forecasts hand you raw space-weather data and leave you to guess what it means for where you're standing. Borealis does the interpreting for you. IS IT WORTH LOOKING UP TONIGHT? • One clear "chance overhead" reading for your exact location — not a generic global number • An honest one-line verdict that accounts for darkness and moonlight, not just Kp • The numbers that matter, in plain sight: Kp, how far south the oval reaches, darkness, the moon • A "next best night" hint so you know when it's worth planning around REAL FORECASTS, NOT RAW NUMBERS • A 3-day Kp outlook and a live solar-wind snapshot • Built on live NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center data and the OVATION aurora model • Unlock the extended hourly probability and 27-day outlook with Pro GET THE ALERT, NOT THE REGRET (PRO) • A push the moment the aurora is likely overhead and your sky is dark • Set your own probability threshold — only get woken up when it's genuinely worth it • A live preview that shows whether tonight's conditions would alert you SEE HOW FAR SOUTH THE LIGHTS REACH (PRO) • A dark aurora map centered on you, with the OVATION oval drawn live • Watch the band push south toward your latitude in real time • Share a snapshot of the map in one tap KEEP AN AURORA DIARY (PRO) • Log every sighting with the date, place, Kp and a photo • Location, Kp and chance are filled in for you automatically • Export and share your whole record LEARN TO READ — AND SHOOT — THE SKY • Plain-English explainers for Kp, the auroral oval, OVATION, Bz, substorms and more • Starter camera settings for your first night shoot, so the lights actually make it into the photo BUILT FOR REAL LIFE • Aurora chasers who'd rather sleep than stake out a dead sky • People who just moved north and refuse to miss their first winter • Travelers in Iceland, Tromsø, Fairbanks or Yellowknife with a night or two to get lucky • Night photographers who want the shot, not the all-nighter • Anyone tired of three apps that never agree PRIVATE BY DEFAULT No account. No sign-up. Your sighting log and photos stay on your device, and Borealis uses your location only to work out your local forecast and alerts. AURORA PRO Aurora Pro unlocks alerts, the full map, the sighting log and the extended forecast. It's available as a weekly or annual subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. • Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Your Apple ID is charged on confirmation and at each renewal • Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Stop refreshing five tabs and hoping. Let Borealis watch the sky for you — and tap you on the shoulder the night it's finally worth heading out. Download Aurora Forecast: Borealis and never sleep through the lights again.

Screenshots

Aurora Watcher4 screens
Aurora Forecast4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Aurora Watcher at none against Aurora Forecast's 4. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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 Forecast sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Aurora Watcher asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Watcher ships an update fortnightly, Aurora Forecast every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Aurora Watcher versus Aurora Forecast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora WatcherAurora Forecast
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAuraxis Technologies Inc.Mobile Card Games & Travel Apps LLC

In-app purchases

None

Aurora Watcher

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Aurora Forecast

Subscriptions2
  • Aurora Pro Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Aurora Pro Annual$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Aurora Pro Lifetime$24.99
  • Aurora Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Aurora Watcher free?
Aurora Watcher is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Aurora Forecast free?
Aurora Forecast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Aurora Watcher or Aurora Forecast have ads?
Neither Aurora Watcher nor Aurora Forecast shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Watcher or Aurora Forecast?
Aurora Watcher ships an update fortnightly, and Aurora Forecast every 11 days. Most recently, Aurora Watcher was updated on October 12, 2026 and Aurora Forecast on October 31, 2026.

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