# Methow Air vs Tides Explorer

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.

Both are free to download. Tides Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Methow Air asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Methow Air | Tides Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/methow-air/id1003393522/reviews) | **[5.0 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tides-explorer/id6446066346/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **25** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 39 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [brian drye](https://appshunter.io/developer/317016359) | [Lonnie Millett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620072866) |

## What reviewers say

### Methow Air

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/methow-air/id1003393522)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Tides Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tides-explorer/id6446066346)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime purchase | $3.00 | one-time |


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