Comparison

Methow Air vs Tides Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Methow Air

Monitor real-time air quality in the Methow Valley with data from local monitoring stations. Get current burn ban information for Okanogan County and check visibility via webcam images. This app provides essential environmental data for the region.

Highlights
  • Current air quality conditions
  • Air monitoring station data
  • Okanogan County burn ban info
  • Live webcam images for visibility
  • Data from Washington State Dept. of Ecology
Features
Read full description

Install Methow Air to check the current air quality in the Methow Valley. View current air quality conditions as recorded by the air monitoring stations in Winthrop and Twisp. The stations are maintained by the Washington State Department of Ecology. In addition, view current air quality burn ban information for Okanogan County and check the current visibility by viewing the latest webcam image. Notes: Air quality burn bans typically occur in the winter. During the summer, fire safety burn bans are often in effect. Do not rely on this app for fire safety burn ban information.

About

Tides Explorer

This app provides accurate tide, current, and weather predictions using official NOAA data for thousands of stations. Plan your water activities with clear charts, sun/moon information, and customizable widgets.

Highlights
  • Accurate tide and current predictions
  • Fast station search
  • Favorites for quick access
  • Interactive charts
  • Weather data at stations
  • Sun, moon, and twilight info
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

Tides Explorer — Accurate Tides, Currents, and Marine Weather Tides Explorer is a precision tide and current app for sailors, boaters, paddlers, and swimmers, built on official NOAA data covering over 6,000 stations across the United States and international waters. It helps you understand not just what the water will do, but when and why, using clear charts and reliable predictions you can plan around. Core Features Get accurate tide and current predictions straight from NOAA, with fast search by name or location and interactive charts for exploring and comparing stations. At supported stations, see real observed water levels laid over the prediction (Pro) — so you know what the water's actually doing, not just what it's supposed to do. Save your favorite spots for quick access (Pro), track real-time weather at supported stations — wind, air and water temperature, and barometric pressure (Pro) — and check sun, moon, and twilight times to help plan your time on the water. Plan Around What Matters to You Drag a custom reference line onto any favorite station's chart — on a current station, mark a safe velocity to catch slack water before transiting a pass — and see exactly when you're above or below it. Set alerts for high and low tides, current extremes, your reference line, or slack water itself (Pro), plus new Moon Over Water alerts for when moonrise or moonset lines up with the water near sunset or sunrise. Designed for Apple Platforms Tides Explorer includes Home and Lock Screen widgets and a full Apple Watch app with multiple complications, all optimized for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Built for the Water Ideal for sailing, boating, kayaking, swimming, fishing, and coastal exploration, Tides Explorer delivers dependable marine data without clutter, so you can plan confidently and focus on the water.

Screenshots

Methow Air4 screens
Tides Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tides Explorer at 100% against Methow Air's 50%. Tides Explorer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.4) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 39 months). Methow Air's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. Tides Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Methow Air asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tides Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Methow Air's written reviews are positive against 100% of Tides Explorer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Methow Air ships an update every 39 months, Tides Explorer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Methow Air versus Tides Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMethow AirTides Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (9 ratings)5.0 (25 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings925 — better
Update frequencyEvery 39 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerbrian dryeLonnie Millett

Customer experience

Methow Air

All ratings9 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Tides Explorer

All ratings25 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Methow Air

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Tides Explorer

One-time1
  • Lifetime purchase$3.00

Questions

Is Methow Air free?
Methow Air is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tides Explorer free?
Tides Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Methow Air or Tides Explorer?
Tides Explorer is rated higher. Methow Air averages 3.4 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Tides Explorer averages 5.0 from 25 ratings.
Do Methow Air or Tides Explorer have ads?
Neither Methow Air nor Tides Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Methow Air or Tides Explorer?
Methow Air ships an update every 39 months, and Tides Explorer every 2 months. Most recently, Methow Air was updated on October 10, 2026 and Tides Explorer on October 22, 2026.

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