Comparison

MoonReader vs Planetary Retrogrades

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

Head to head
About

MoonReader

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
Read full description

It was summarized in simple a lot of information you need to charm of the moon. Even a little time, you can enjoy a sense of flow reading the information of the star. [Celestial events] The recorded 50 years of 2010-2060. Transit chart when its comes to each event. - Date and time of the affirmations - Date and time the moon phase (new moon / first quarter / full moon / bottom chord) - The perigee pass date and time of the most recent and the distance of the Moon Super Moon judgment in each month during phase - Date and time of the void time - Date and time of the constellations move of the month - Date and time of the constellations move the sun - Date and time of Mercury retrograde

About

Planetary Retrogrades

This app provides real-time insights into planetary retrogrades and lunar cycles. It offers detailed explanations of their effects, alerts for celestial events, and a comprehensive moon module. Enhance your understanding of cosmic influences and align your life with celestial rhythms.

Highlights
  • Real-time retrograde alerts
  • Detailed insights and effects
  • Retrograde checker
  • Home screen widgets
  • Complete moon module
  • Moon phase notifications
Features
Read full description

Planetary Retrogrades: Your Cosmic Guide to Celestial Shifts Navigate the cosmic dance of the planets with ease. Planetary Retrogrades gives you real-time insight into the celestial events that mystify our lives — from Mercury retrograde to the Moon's nightly journey. Why do certain days feel off? How do these shifts shape our communication, mood, and decisions? We've got the answers. KEY FEATURES 1. Real-time Retrograde Alerts Stay ahead of the cosmic curve with instant notifications for current and upcoming planetary retrogrades. 2. Detailed Insights & Effects Delve into clear explanations of each retrograde and its potential sway over your everyday life. 3. Retrograde Checker (1900–2100) Look up planetary retrogrades for any date across two full centuries — check what was retrograde on your birthday, plan ahead, or make sense of a past event, including each planet's pre- and post-retrograde shadow periods. (Premium.) 4. Widgets at a Glance With our premium widgets, see the current and upcoming retrogrades right on your home screen. 5. NEW — Complete Moon Module A dedicated tab with live moon phase & illumination, exact zodiac position (° ′ ″), rise/set times, Earth–Moon distance, next-phase and sign-change countdowns, Void-of-Course windows, upcoming solar & lunar eclipses, and a beautifully illustrated monthly lunar calendar. 6. NEW — Moon Notifications Switch on alerts for Moon Phase changes, Moon Sign changes, and the start/end of Void-of-Course — right from Settings › Moon Notifications, so you never miss a lunar moment. WHY CHOOSE PLANETARY RETROGRADES? Astronomically precise — Positions, retrogrades, eclipses, and Moon data are computed with research-grade algorithms and cross-checked against authoritative ephemerides for dependable precision. Sleek design — An intuitive interface paired with stunning visuals for a stellar experience. For everyone — Whether you're a seasoned astrologer or a cosmic newcomer, the app meets you where you are. Expanded lunar coverage — The same pinpoint accuracy you rely on for retrogrades, now for the Moon. SYNC WITH THE STARS Grasp the nuances of retrograde movements and understand their influence on your personal, professional, and social life. Let the cosmos guide you through challenges and harmonize your rhythm — and stay in tune with every lunar phase, sign change, and Void-of-Course window. PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION Dive deeper with premium: detailed insights, instant notifications, exclusive widgets, planetary degrees & signs, the full 1900–2100 Retrograde Checker (with all-planet shadow periods), complete Moon Module access, and unlimited lunar notifications. Join our community and align with the celestial. Download Planetary Retrogrades and begin your cosmic journey today. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MoonReader4 screens
Planetary Retrogrades4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MoonReader at none against Planetary Retrogrades's 3. MoonReader also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). Planetary Retrogrades's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume and device support 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. Planetary Retrogrades sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. MoonReader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Planetary Retrogrades holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 204 and 70 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of MoonReader's written reviews are positive against 75% of Planetary Retrogrades's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MoonReader ships an update every 6 months, Planetary Retrogrades every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
MoonReader versus Planetary Retrogrades: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMoonReaderPlanetary Retrogrades
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (204 ratings)4.8 (70 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.8% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings204 — better70
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB49 MB
Age rating17++4
DeveloperHoroscoPH TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC

Customer experience

MoonReader

All ratings204 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral5.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews88 reviews
Positive64.8%
Neutral19.3%
Negative15.9%

Planetary Retrogrades

All ratings70 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral1.4%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

MoonReader

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • 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
Show 5 more
  • Scrolling position resets after switching apps
  • Missing horoscope menu
  • February only has 27 days for one user
  • Spelling error: 'Quoter' instead of 'Quarter'
  • App does not translate to English as advertised

Requested features

22 requests
  • 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
Show 17 more
  • Add option to turn on notifications for all transits
  • Add option for calendar-style display
  • Add option to sort events (ascending/descending)
  • Add explanation for "affirmation" period
  • Include other planetary ingresses
  • Add translation to Brazilian Portuguese
  • Link with Google Calendar
  • Add a 12-hour clock option
  • Add shadow periods for Mercury retrograde
  • Provide circular Ephemeris
  • Make the app usable offline
  • Add a paid version to remove ads
  • Add explanation for astrological terms
  • Make all notifications default
  • Add a calendar view showing a full month on one screen
  • Make the app more intuitive for users without astrology expertise
  • Add eclipse information (solar and lunar)

Planetary Retrogrades

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

MoonReader

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Planetary Retrogrades

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Subscription (Weekly)$7.997 Days
  • Premium Subscription (1 year)$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Purchase$79.99

Questions

Is MoonReader free?
MoonReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Planetary Retrogrades free?
Planetary Retrogrades is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MoonReader or Planetary Retrogrades?
Planetary Retrogrades is rated higher. MoonReader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 204 ratings, while Planetary Retrogrades averages 4.8 from 70 ratings.
Do MoonReader or Planetary Retrogrades have ads?
MoonReader shows ads; Planetary Retrogrades does not.
Which is updated more often, MoonReader or Planetary Retrogrades?
MoonReader ships an update every 6 months, and Planetary Retrogrades every 6 weeks. Most recently, MoonReader was updated on October 6, 2026 and Planetary Retrogrades on October 7, 2026.

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