Comparison

Moon Phase Widget vs Mooncaster

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

Head to head
About

Moon Phase Widget

Features
Read full description

What phase is the moon tonight? Open the app and it is the first thing you see: tonight's phase, the exact illumination percentage, and how many days until the next full moon. Or skip opening the app entirely — put the moon on your home screen or lock screen and just glance. Everything is computed on your iPhone from published astronomical series — the same Meeus algorithms observatories reference — verified against eclipse records to within minutes. No server, no account, no internet required. It works on a mountainside at 2 a.m. exactly as it works at home. WHAT YOU GET • "Full Moon — in 9 days" waiting on your home screen: widgets for the home screen and lock screen show tonight's phase, illumination % and the next full moon date at a glance • A monthly calendar of phase icons — browse any month, past or future, and tap any day for its phase and exact illumination • Moonrise and moonset for your exact location, in your local time zone — know the Moon clears the horizon at 21:14 before you drive out with a camera or a rod • A reminder on the day of every full moon and new moon, at the hour you choose — never miss a bright night or a dark-sky window again • A guide to all 8 phases: what you will actually see in the sky tonight, plus the folklore cultures attached to each phase • One tap exports the next 12 months of full and new moons as a calendar file you can add to any calendar app PERFECT FOR • Night and landscape photographers timing moonrise shots • Anglers picking their fishing nights around the lunar cycle • Stargazers waiting for a new moon dark-sky window • Anyone who looks up and wonders what tonight's moon will be WHY NOT JUST SEARCH IT? A web search tells you today's phase — then you search again tomorrow. MoonPhase sits on your lock screen with tonight's phase, illumination and the next full moon always current, reminds you on the day itself, and keeps working with no signal at all. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT No account, no tracking, no data leaves your iPhone. If you choose to share your location, it is used on-device only to compute moonrise and moonset — never uploaded, never stored anywhere else. FULL ACCESS MoonPhase requires Full Access, available as a weekly subscription, a yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Full Access includes the home and lock screen widgets, unlimited calendar browsing, moonrise and moonset times, full and new moon reminders, the complete phase guide with folklore, and calendar export. Download MoonPhase, add the widget, and know tonight's moon before you look up. Terms of Use: https://leanstudio.asia/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://leanstudio.asia/privacy-policy Support: support@leanstudio.asia

About

Mooncaster

This app predicts promising moonrises by combining lunar data with local weather forecasts. It helps users find the best viewing times and locations, offering scores for astronomical and weather conditions. Plan your perfect moonlit experience with detailed alerts and interactive maps.

Highlights
  • Predicts promising moonrises
  • Combines lunar geometry with weather forecasts
  • Provides Astronomy, Weather, and Moonrise Scores
  • Offers interactive direction maps
  • Delivers custom and automatic alerts
  • Includes Home Screen Widgets
Features
Read full description

Know when a moonrise is truly worth heading outside for. Mooncaster goes beyond moonrise times. It combines precise lunar geometry with local Apple Weather forecasts to show how promising the view may be, when to be ready, and where to look. Whether you’re planning a photograph, choosing a viewpoint, or simply hoping to catch a beautiful Moon near the horizon, Mooncaster turns complex astronomy and weather data into a clear plan. FIND THE BEST MOONRISES • Browse a curated list of astronomically promising moonrises • See every upcoming visible moonrise or build your own custom view • Filter by illumination, cloud cover, visibility, and timing near sunset •View today's moonrise or moonset in a Home Screen Widget. PLAN WITH SCORES YOU CAN UNDERSTAND • Astronomy Score rates illumination, timing, and the Moon’s near-horizon climb • Weather Score considers cloud cover and visibility during the viewing window • Moonrise Score brings astronomy and weather together in one 0–100 rating • Forecast confidence—High, Medium, Low, or Pending—shows how much trust to place in the current outlook KNOW WHEN AND WHERE TO LOOK • View moonrise and moonset times, phase, illumination, direction, and compass bearing • See how quickly the Moon climbs and follow its arc across the sky • Use an interactive direction map to fine-tune your viewing position STAY AHEAD OF CHANGING WEATHER • Check conditions focused on the moonrise viewing window—not just a generic daily forecast • Review cloud cover, visibility, and recent forecast trends • Refresh on demand; Mooncaster also updates weather and alerts in the background when iOS allows GET THE RIGHT ALERT AT THE RIGHT TIME Auto Mode watches your Best Moonrises and schedules alerts only when an astronomically promising event receives a favorable, reliable forecast. You can also set manual alerts for any moonrise you choose. Pick from the morning of the event, 6 hours, 1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes before, or right at moonrise. EXPLORE MORE WITH MOONRISE PRO Mooncaster includes a complimentary seven-day preview of every feature. The preview does not automatically start a subscription, and a limited one-location view remains available afterward. Moonrise Pro unlocks: • Unlimited saved locations • Complete 45-day lunar outlooks, with weather added as forecast data becomes available • Full upcoming moonrise lists and detailed forecasts • Interactive direction maps • Automatic and custom scheduled alerts Choose monthly or annual access, or make a one-time lifetime purchase. Monthly and annual subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Forecasts and scores are planning aids, not guarantees. Terrain, buildings, haze, and other local obstructions may affect what you see. Weather data is provided by Apple Weather. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.catspaw-systems.com/PrivacyPolicies/MooncasterPrivacy.html

Screenshots

Moon Phase Widget4 screens
Mooncaster4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Moon Phase Widget at none against Mooncaster's 3. Mooncaster's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Mooncaster sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Moon Phase Widget asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Moon Phase Widget ships an update every 4 months, Mooncaster every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Moon Phase Widget versus Mooncaster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMoon Phase WidgetMooncaster
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLEAN ASIA CO., LTDCatspaw Systems LLC

In-app purchases

None

Moon Phase Widget

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Mooncaster

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Mooncaster Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Mooncaster Annual Subscription$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Mooncaster Lifetime Access$24.99

Questions

Is Moon Phase Widget free?
Moon Phase Widget is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mooncaster free?
Mooncaster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Moon Phase Widget or Mooncaster have ads?
Neither Moon Phase Widget nor Mooncaster shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Moon Phase Widget or Mooncaster?
Moon Phase Widget ships an update every 4 months, and Mooncaster every 5 days. Most recently, Moon Phase Widget was updated on October 22, 2026 and Mooncaster on October 16, 2026.

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