# MoonReader vs Planetary Retrogrades

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | MoonReader | Planetary Retrogrades |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (204 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonreader/id921045502/reviews) | **[4.8 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planetary-retrogrades/id6468492086/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **204** | 70 |
| Positive reviews | 64.8% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Horosco](https://appshunter.io/developer/555874531) | [PH TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/681893194) |

## 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 Retrogrades

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planetary-retrogrades/id6468492086)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Subscription (Weekly) | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Subscription (1 year) | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Purchase | $79.99 | one-time |


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