If you want a free live UV index and an estimated burn time, with a countdown on your Apple Watch and Lock Screen, pick Shade. If you want a subscription app that scans your skin and builds a structured tanning routine, pick SPF – Tan Timer & UV Tracker.
What each app does
Shade reads the live UV index from Apple Weather, takes your Fitzpatrick skin type (I–VI) and your protection (bare skin, sunscreen or covered up), and shows your estimated burn time. In a session you get a countdown, turn-over cues, a reapply reminder every 2 hours with sunscreen and a heads-up before your estimated burn time, following WHO UV Index guidance.
SPF, from BluPalms, also takes its UV data from Apple Weather. As of October 2026 its App Store listing describes a real-time UV index, a personalized tanning routine for your skin type, a Quick Tan timer and session logging. It analyses face and skin images on your device to estimate tone and skin type. All of these features sit behind the subscription.
Key differences
- Free use. Shade’s free tier covers the UV index, burn-time estimate, widgets and a first full session. SPF needs an active subscription for its features.
- Estimate vs routine. Shade tells you roughly how long until you’re likely to burn. SPF gives you a routine and timer to follow.
- Sunscreen. Shade counts sunscreen well below the label SPF because people under-apply. SPF’s listing doesn’t say how sunscreen is counted.
- Watch and Lock Screen. Shade has a Watch app, widgets and a Live Activity. SPF’s listing mentions none of these.
- Older iPhones. SPF runs on iOS 16.6 and later; Shade needs iOS 26. SPF also has around 5,000 US ratings (4.6 average) as of October 2026, many more than Shade.
Who each is for
Shade suits you if you want to try the core features without paying and like seeing the countdown on your wrist. SPF suits you if you want a guided routine with a skin scan and you’re happy to subscribe, or your iPhone can’t run iOS 26.
Other options
SunSafe and Beam also build routines, while UVLens and Apple Weather keep things to the UV index. See all Shade comparisons or the best tanning apps in 2026.