Comparison

Lunar Timer vs Moon Phases

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

Head to head
About

Lunar Timer

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Lunar Timer is a calendar and timer app that notifies you of celestial events — new moons, full moons, and moon transitions. Track the moon's status in real time and stay on top of your schedule. 【Home Screen】 ・Displays the next moon transition start and end times ・Visual progress bar showing the current progress ・Real-time moon status display (tap to toggle illustrations) 【Push Notifications】 ・Moon transitions: 2 hours before / at start / at end ・New Moon: notified at the exact moment ・Full Moon: notified at a set time on the day of the event Notification timing is adjusted based on moon transition periods. ・Automatic silent mode from midnight to 6:00 AM ・Notifications are delivered in your device's local time — works worldwide 【Calendar & Reminders Integration】 ・Sync with the default iOS Calendar and Reminders apps ・Register the latest 3 months of events at once ・Choose your preferred destination list ・Auto-update: keeps event data up to date each month ・Alarm settings: * Notifications ON: registered at the same timing as push notifications (excluding transition end notifications) * Notifications OFF: registered at each event's start time For moon transitions, Calendar registers both start and end times. Reminders register the start time only (the end time is shown in the title). Do not delete the Identifier in the event notes. It is required for automatic updates and bulk deletion. 【Annual Schedule & Memos】 ・Annual Schedule view ・Annual event list ・Memos for each date (quick notes & detailed entries) 【Widgets & Live Activities】 ・Check upcoming events from your home screen without opening the app ・Open the app during a moon transition to display the end time via Live Activities ・Dynamic Island supported (compatible devices only) This app is an informational tool that displays the timing of lunar events. It does not guarantee any specific results or outcomes. For questions or bug reports, please use the Contact form in the app's Settings screen.

About

Moon Phases

Features
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Know tonight’s Moon. Plan your next moonlit night. Check the current moon phase, see when the next full moon arrives, and find local moonrise and moonset times. Moon Phases brings these everyday answers together with a cinematic Moon shaped by NASA lunar terrain, soft skies and the faint glow of earthshine. Tonight, at a glance See illumination, Moon age and distance. Follow the Sun and Moon on today’s interactive horizon chart, check sunrise and sunset, and use the Moon compass to find its direction. Save cities to check the Moon away from home. Current weather appears when available. Start free • Tonight’s phase and countdowns to the next full and new moon • Local moonrise, transit and moonset times • Today’s Sun/Moon horizon chart and a lunar calendar preview • Upcoming solar and lunar eclipse dates • Optional moonrise, full moon eve, new moon eve and eclipse reminders • A featured illustrated Moon Story, with sources for further reading Go further with Pro One purchase, no subscription: • Remove ads • Explore full monthly and annual lunar calendars • Browse the seven-day phase forecast • Add Home Screen and Lock Screen moon widgets • Plan photography with golden- and blue-hour times • Read all twelve illustrated Moon Stories • Choose Moon colours and imagery, and use alternative calendars Made for iPhone and iPad, with light and dark appearances and layouts that adapt to larger text. Moon and Sun calculations run on your device. Weather and city search require an internet connection. The free version contains ads. Terms of Use: https://www.cong-le.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://www.cong-le.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

Lunar Timer4 screens
Moon Phases4 screens

Verdict

The call

Lunar Timer and Moon Phases are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Lunar Timer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and Moon Phases sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lunar Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, Moon Phases monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Lunar Timer versus Moon Phases: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLunar TimerMoon Phases
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperATSUKO MOTOYAMAPocket Grove Ltd

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Lunar Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Plan3 Days trial$1.991 Month
1 purchases

Moon Phases

One-time1
  • Moon Phases Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Lunar Timer free?
Lunar Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Moon Phases free?
Moon Phases is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lunar Timer or Moon Phases have ads?
Both Lunar Timer and Moon Phases show ads.
Which is updated more often, Lunar Timer or Moon Phases?
Lunar Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Moon Phases monthly. Most recently, Lunar Timer was updated on October 15, 2026 and Moon Phases on October 31, 2026.

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