# MoonReader vs Planetary Hours by Planetaro

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MoonReader at none against Planetary Hours by Planetaro's 3. MoonReader also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). Planetary Hours by Planetaro's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Planetary Hours by Planetaro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. MoonReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Planetary Hours by Planetaro holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Planetary Hours by Planetaro has 1.6K ratings behind it against 204, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of MoonReader's written reviews are positive against 71% of Planetary Hours by Planetaro's.

MoonReader ships an update every 6 months, Planetary Hours by Planetaro every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MoonReader | Planetary Hours by Planetaro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (204 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonreader/id921045502/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planetary-hours-by-planetaro/id1533644988/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 204 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 64.8% of reviews | **71.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Horosco](https://appshunter.io/developer/555874531) | [Muhammed Tanriverdi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871442495) |

## What reviewers say

### MoonReader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonreader/id921045502)

Discover celestial events with detailed information on moon phases, transits, and planetary movements. Track astronomical occurrences for the next 50 years, including supermoons and Mercury retrograde periods. Enjoy a sense of flow and connection to the cosmos.

**Highlights:** Celestial event tracking (2010-2060), Transit charts for events, Moon phase information, Perigee and Super Moon data, Void of course moon times, Constellation movement tracking, Mercury retrograde dates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🌟 Provides useful astrological information
- 🎯 Tracks void of course moons
- 🗓️ Tracks Mercury retrogrades
- 🌙 Tracks moon phases (new/full)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Void of course times sometimes confusing
- 🐛 Scrolling direction is counterintuitive (upwards)
- 🐛 Some users find it difficult to understand without prior knowledge
- 🐛 Spelling errors in English text (e.g., Quoter vs. Quarter)
- 🐛 Ads are distracting and annoying

**Reported bugs**

- 31st day of the month is missing in some months
- Void time is off by about an hour for some users
- Void time start and finish times can be confusing
- Notifications not working
- App crashes on iOS

**Requested features**

- Incorporate alerts for moon changing sign and entering VOC
- Add a calendar view
- Increase the limit for notification settings
- Add a memo/diary function
- Add a widget


### Planetary Hours by Planetaro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planetary-hours-by-planetaro/id1533644988)

This app calculates planetary hours based on your location, dividing each day into unequal segments ruled by classical planets. It helps you align activities with celestial energies and track moon phases. Widgets and notifications keep you informed.

**Highlights:** Planetary hours and moon calendar, Lock and home screen widgets, Apple Watch complications, Notifications for selected hours, Calendar syncing, Live Activities integration, Multiple themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Excellent app
- 🌟 Helpful for planning
- 🌍 Useful for astrology/spirituality
- 🕰️ Accurate planetary hour tracking
- 💻 Great widget and complication

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🌐 Lack of language options
- 📆 Limited calendar view
- 🔄 Inconsistent widget updates
- 🔋 Battery drain issues

**Reported bugs**

- Planetary days/hours displayed incorrectly
- Subscription issues and refund problems

**Requested features**

- Add moon phase information
- Expand calendar view to weekly/monthly
- Improve planetary hour notifications
- Provide option for free/one-time purchase


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MoonReader free?

MoonReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Planetary Hours by Planetaro free?

Planetary Hours by Planetaro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MoonReader or Planetary Hours by Planetaro?

Planetary Hours by Planetaro is rated higher. MoonReader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 204 ratings, while Planetary Hours by Planetaro averages 4.8 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do MoonReader or Planetary Hours by Planetaro have ads?

MoonReader shows ads; Planetary Hours by Planetaro does not.

### Which is updated more often, MoonReader or Planetary Hours by Planetaro?

MoonReader ships an update every 6 months, and Planetary Hours by Planetaro every 3 weeks. Most recently, MoonReader was updated on September 19, 2026 and Planetary Hours by Planetaro on September 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*