Comparison

Aurora Buddy vs AuroraPulse

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

Head to head
About

Aurora Buddy

This app provides hyper-local aurora borealis predictions and alerts based on solar wind data and local weather. It helps users find the best viewing conditions with cloud cover and light pollution maps, and offers long-range forecasts for planning.

Highlights
  • Hyper-local aurora probability
  • Flight aurora viewing planner
  • Smart background location alerts
  • Interactive cloud cover maps
  • Light pollution data overlay
  • 5-day long-range forecasts
Features
Read full description

Predicting the Aurora Borealis is a complex dance of solar winds, magnetic fields, and local weather. Aurora Buddy simplifies the science into a single, beautiful dashboard that tells you exactly when to head outside. Whether you are a seasoned chaser or a first-time dreamer, Aurora Buddy provides the precision you need to never miss the northern lights. Key Features: Hyper-Local Accuracy: We don't just give you a generic Kp-index. We analyze real-time solar wind speed, density, and Bz orientation to give you a probability for your exact location. Flight Planner: Put in the details for your next flight and see if you'll see the aurora from your flight! Smart Background Alerts: Traveling? Aurora Buddy tracks your location in the background to update your forecast. If the lights start dancing near your new location, you'll be the first to know. Cloud Maps: An aurora is no good behind a thick layer of clouds. Our interactive maps overlay live cloud cover and light pollution data so you can find the clearest "dark sky" window nearby. Solar Cycle Insights: Stay ahead of the curve with 5-day long-range forecasts, perfect for planning your next trip to the Arctic (or your own backyard).

About

AuroraPulse

Features
Read full description

Will you see the northern lights tonight? AuroraPulse answers with one number: your chance, from where you are, right now. YOUR CHANCE, NOT JUST A KP AuroraPulse combines the planetary Kp index with your geomagnetic latitude, the cloud above you and how dark the sky is. A high Kp means little under an overcast sky or at noon, and the app says so. LIVE AURORA MAP See the auroral oval from NOAA's OVATION model on a real map, where you stand in relation to it, and which way to look. FORECAST • 3-day Kp forecast with the windows when aurora could reach you • 27-day outlook for planning a trip • Compare a destination: what Kp it needs and the cloud forecast ALERTS THAT RESPECT YOU • One evening notice when aurora is forecast for your location • Optional alert 30 minutes before the peak • Geomagnetic storm and Earth-directed CME alerts, filtered to what can be seen at your latitude SPACE WEATHER, EXPLAINED Solar wind speed, Bz, X-ray flares, sunspot number and active NOAA storm bulletins, with a guide that explains what each number means. WIDGETS AND LIVE ACTIVITY Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, a Live Activity when aurora is possible, and Siri: "What's the aurora forecast in AuroraPulse?" COMMUNITY SIGHTINGS See recent reports near you and add your own. A sighting shares an approximate location (about 10 km), never your exact position. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No ads, no tracking, no sign-up. Your location is used on your device; weather requests use it rounded to about 1 km. Data: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, NASA DONKI, Open-Meteo.

Screenshots

Aurora Buddy4 screens
AuroraPulse4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Aurora Buddy at 15.1 against AuroraPulse's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aurora Buddy ships an update every 10 days, AuroraPulse every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Aurora Buddy versus AuroraPulse: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAurora BuddyAuroraPulse
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarsh PatelChristine Martin

In-app purchases

None

Aurora Buddy

No in-app purchases

None

AuroraPulse

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Aurora Buddy free?
Aurora Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AuroraPulse free?
AuroraPulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Aurora Buddy or AuroraPulse have ads?
Neither Aurora Buddy nor AuroraPulse shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aurora Buddy or AuroraPulse?
Aurora Buddy ships an update every 10 days, and AuroraPulse every 11 days. Most recently, Aurora Buddy was updated on October 3, 2026 and AuroraPulse on October 15, 2026.

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