Comparison

Sunset Predictions vs GoldenHour

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

Head to head
About

Sunset Predictions

This app predicts not only sunrise and sunset times but also the quality of light, helping photographers and enthusiasts plan their shoots. It offers detailed forecasts, customizable alerts, and augmented reality tools to visualize the sun's path.

Highlights
  • Sunrise & Sunset Quality Forecasts
  • Golden Hour & Blue Hour Times
  • Flexible Reminder Alarms
  • Custom Location Planning
  • Augmented Reality Sun Path
  • Live Activities & Widgets
  • Apple Watch Support
Features
Read full description

Alpenglow helps you capture better sunrises and sunsets, not just the times, but the quality. Whether you’re planning a photography shoot or simply don’t want to miss a great sunrise or sunset, Alpenglow tells you when it’s worth going outside. Unlike other sunrise apps, Alpenglow combines accurate times with sunrise and sunset quality forecasts, so you know how good the light is expected to be before it happens. Key Features • Sunrise, Sunset, Golden Hour, Magic Hour & Blue Hour Times • Sunrise & Sunset Quality Forecasts, showing how good the light is expected to be • Flexible reminder alarms so you never miss a great moment • Custom locations to plan shoots and trips anywhere in the world • Quick date navigation with arrows or a calendar picker • Sun direction map showing where the sun rises and sets • Augmented reality sun path to visualize the sun’s movement • Live Activities to count down to upcoming events • Interactive Home Screen, Lock Screen & StandBy widgets • Apple Watch support, including complications • Light & Dark Mode and full Dynamic Type support Improve the forecasts Submit field reports after a sunrise or sunset — your reports help improve future color and quality forecasts for everyone. Alpenglow uses its own continuously evolving forecast model, designed specifically for predicting sunrise and sunset light quality. The model improves over time as more data and real-world reports are added. Available on all your Apple devices Alpenglow works across iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro, so your forecasts are always close at hand. Alpenglow Pro Alpenglow is free to use, with optional Pro features for photographers and planners who want more control and foresight. With Alpenglow Pro, you can: • View quality forecasts up to 4 days ahead • Get forecast notifications when sunrise or sunset quality exceeds your threshold • Let Alpenglow automatically schedule alarms when a sunrise or sunset is worth catching • Unlock interactive forecast widgets • Access forecast Apple Watch complications • Use more accurate location and elevation data, processed entirely on-device • Quickly revisit recently searched locations • Customize the app with accent colors and alternative app icons • Share Pro features with Family Sharing Privacy-first by design Your location stays on your device and is never stored online. Alpenglow Pro subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://alpenglowapp.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://alpenglowapp.com/privacy

About

GoldenHour

This app helps photographers and outdoor enthusiasts find the best light for capturing sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and blue hour. It provides precise timing, sky quality forecasts, and planning tools to ensure you never miss the perfect moment.

Highlights
  • Sunrise & sunset timing
  • Golden hour & blue hour prediction
  • Sky quality forecast
  • Location-based planning
  • AR sun path visualization
  • Customizable alerts
  • Home & Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

The best light of the day lasts minutes. GoldenHour makes sure you're there for it. GoldenHour is your daily sun companion - built for photographers, creators, travelers, and anyone who wants to catch sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and blue hour at the perfect moment. Get precise times for your location, a smart sky-quality forecast, and the advanced tools to plan around the light before it fades. WHY GOLDENHOUR Know the Peaks: Track exactly when the light is best - sunrise, sunset, golden hour, and blue hour. Sky Quality Forecast: Instantly see if today's sky is worth stepping outside for. Smart Reminders: Get notified before the magic happens, not after it's gone. Plan Anywhere: Scope out locations worldwide, save favorite spots, and plan from wherever you are. PLAN AROUND THE LIGHT Solar Timeline: A beautiful, dynamic day timeline with key solar milestones. Predictive Forecasts: Hyper-accurate sunset and sunrise quality scores. Sun Direction Map: See exactly where the sun will rise and set on a map. Building Shadow Map: Watch light and shade move across real streets and buildings, then pick your spot before you shoot. Visible Sunset Times: See when nearby hills hide the sun from your spot - not only the official time on the clock. AR Sun Path: Hold up your phone to see the sun's exact trajectory in Augmented Reality. Multi-Day Planning: Find the absolute best morning or evening for shooting this week. NEVER MISS THE MOMENT Custom Alerts: Tailored notifications before sunset or your favorite light phase. Routine Alarms: Sunrise and sunset alarms designed to fit your daily routine. Ask Siri: Check sunset time, sky quality, and how long you have - without opening the app. Premium Widgets: Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center with live sun tracking. Live Activities: Real-time countdowns on Lock Screen and Dynamic Island for upcoming golden hours. Apple Watch: Next light, timeline, and sky quality on your wrist. CAPTURE AND REMEMBER Personal Sky Gallery: Save your own sunset photos in a Journal, with a calendar and insights from your moments. Track Memories: Keep your best captures organized in one beautiful place, privately synced with iCloud. Share the Light: Export and share stunning, personalized sun cards with friends. BUILT FOR REAL LIFE Whether you're scouting a professional photo shoot, choosing the most scenic walk home, traveling to a brand-new city, or just stepping outside for five minutes of calm - GoldenHour gives you the timing, context, and perfect nudge you need. It's on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. Download GoldenHour today and make the most of every sunset. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://jet-fang-e75.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-392575725a2080f0a8a7ef270167c22e

Screenshots

Sunset Predictions4 screens
GoldenHour4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: GoldenHour at 100% against Sunset Predictions's 48%. Sunset Predictions's advantage is ratings volume (2.1K vs 12) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Sunset Predictions sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and GoldenHour sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sunset Predictions holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sunset Predictions has 2.1K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of Sunset Predictions's written reviews are positive against 100% of GoldenHour's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sunset Predictions ships an update every 5 days, GoldenHour every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Sunset Predictions versus GoldenHour: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSunset PredictionsGoldenHour
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2.1K ratings) — better4.2 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews48.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.1K — better12
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#92 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.618.6
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB111 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew YatesKoren Salav

Customer experience

Sunset Predictions

All ratings2,095 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews275 reviews
Positive48.4%
Neutral8.4%
Negative43.3%

GoldenHour

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Sunset Predictions

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Apple Watch complication not working consistently
  • Location services issues causing incorrect forecasts
  • Subscription issues with app not recognizing purchases

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add moon rise and moon set times
  • Implement dark mode option
  • Improve accuracy of forecasts through better data sources
  • Allow users to submit feedback and field reports to improve predictions

GoldenHour

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Sunset Predictions

Subscriptions6
  • Pro Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time3
  • Sweet-Sized Tip2 variants$0.99
  • Pro Lifetime$24.99
  • Pro Lifetime$29.99
4 purchases

GoldenHour

Subscriptions3
  • GoldenHour Plus Monthly$3.991 Month
  • GoldenHour Plus Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • GoldenHour Plus Yearly WinBack1 Year trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • GoldenHour Plus Lifetime$34.99

Questions

Is Sunset Predictions free?
Sunset Predictions is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GoldenHour free?
GoldenHour is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sunset Predictions or GoldenHour?
Sunset Predictions is rated higher. Sunset Predictions averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while GoldenHour averages 4.2 from 12 ratings.
Do Sunset Predictions or GoldenHour have ads?
Neither Sunset Predictions nor GoldenHour shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sunset Predictions or GoldenHour?
Sunset Predictions ships an update every 5 days, and GoldenHour every 9 days. Most recently, Sunset Predictions was updated on November 6, 2026 and GoldenHour on November 9, 2026.

Other comparisons