Comparison

Boreal vs Hammock Time

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

Head to head
About

Boreal

Features
Read full description

See the northern and southern lights with Boreal. Know when and where to see the northern or southern lights with Boreal, your personal aurora forecast. Boreal shows your chance of seeing the aurora tonight, helps you find the best time to look, and notifies you when the aurora is likely to be visible at your location. Whether you're planning a trip or watching from home, Boreal makes it easier to experience the northern and southern lights. AURORA FORECAST Know your chances of seeing the aurora before heading outside. • See your chance of seeing the aurora tonight. • Find the best time with an hour-by-hour forecast. • Plan ahead with a two-night forecast. • Understand the forecast with solar activity, cloud cover, and darkness information. AURORA ALERTS Get notified when the northern or southern lights are likely to be visible at your location. • Receive alerts based on local aurora conditions. • Choose to receive alerts even when Focus mode is on. LIVE AURORA GLOBE Explore aurora activity around the world with an interactive 3D globe. • See where the aurora is active. • Explore cloud cover and areas of darkness. • Follow changing conditions with real-time updates. BOREAL ON YOUR DEVICES Check the aurora forecast wherever you are. • See the forecast with Home Screen widgets. • Check aurora conditions on your Apple Watch. • Ask Siri about your chance of seeing the aurora tonight. • Use the camera to find where to look for the aurora. NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERES Boreal supports both the northern and southern lights. Get a forecast based on your location, wherever you are. If the aurora cannot be seen from your location, Boreal will tell you. FREE TO GET STARTED Boreal is free to download. These features are always free: • Tonight's chance of seeing the aurora. • An hour-by-hour forecast for tonight. • A camera that helps you find where to look. For more features, choose a Boreal Pass: • Aurora alerts. • Two-night aurora forecast. • Live 3D globe. • Home Screen widgets. • Apple Watch app. • Siri support. Choose the option that works for you: • Season Pass: Yearly subscription with a 12-month commitment. • 14-Day Pass: Access for 14 days. • 4-Day Pass: Access for 4 days. New users get full access to all Boreal features for their first night, free. Terms of Use: https://getboreal.app/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://getboreal.app/privacy-policy

About

Hammock Time

Features
Read full description

Hammock Time watches the weather and pings you when it’s good enough to get in the hammock. Pick Good, Great, or Perfect. Leave the app. That’s it. It follows your phone, or a hammock you pin. Rain is always a no. One ping when the weather crosses your bar, daytime only.

Screenshots

Boreal4 screens
Hammock Time3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hammock Time at none against Boreal's 5. Hammock Time also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Boreal's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence and ads 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. Boreal sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. Hammock Time asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Boreal versus Hammock Time: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBorealHammock Time
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKasimir HirvikoskiTAYLOR JACK RAINES

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Boreal

Subscriptions1
  • Season Pass$24.991 Year
One-time4
  • 4-Day Pass$1.99
  • 4-Day Pass$3.99
  • 14-Day Pass$3.99
Show 1 more
  • 14-Day Pass$9.99
None

Hammock Time

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Boreal free?
Boreal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hammock Time free?
Hammock Time is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Boreal or Hammock Time have ads?
Neither Boreal nor Hammock Time shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Boreal or Hammock Time?
Boreal ships an update fortnightly, and Hammock Time fortnightly. Most recently, Boreal was updated on November 13, 2026 and Hammock Time on October 29, 2026.

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