# Ice Report vs DeerCast

The clearest difference is rating: DeerCast at 4.5 against Ice Report's 3.2. DeerCast also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (63% vs 30%). Ice Report's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ice Report sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year and DeerCast sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DeerCast holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DeerCast has 7.1K ratings behind it against 82, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Ice Report's written reviews are positive against 63% of DeerCast's.

Ice Report ships an update every 5 months, DeerCast every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ice Report | DeerCast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (82 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ice-report/id1084838757/reviews) | **[4.5 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deercast-prep-predict-pursue/id1425879996/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 82 | **7.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 30.4% of reviews | **62.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #62 | **#3** |
| Size | 89 MB | 173 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Split Rock Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1084838756) | [GSM Outdoors](https://appshunter.io/developer/1813997223) |

## What reviewers say

### Ice Report

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ice-report/id1084838757)

**Currently charting:** #62 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app allows users to share and view real-time lake ice thickness information for ice fishing. Anglers can report conditions at their GPS location, and others can see recent reports on a map. It helps users find safe ice fishing spots and contribute to the community.

**Highlights:** Report lake ice thickness, View ice conditions on a map, Filter reports by date, GPS location reporting, User-submitted data, Delete incorrect reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Supporter | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great concept for ice fishing
- 👍 Useful for checking ice thickness
- 👍 Saves time and effort
- 👍 Good for early season ice
- 👍 App works well for some users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 No ice info visible
- 😞 App doesn't work
- 😞 Map won't load
- 😞 Useless without user reports
- 😞 Premium required for basic functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't work
- Map won't load
- App crashes after update
- App won't open map
- App spins and does nothing

**Requested features**

- Allow remote reporting for non-premium users
- Add notes for fishing reports and bait shop info
- Search by state and tag reservoir names
- Add filters for ice thickness and reported date
- Allow users to type in lake names


### DeerCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deercast-prep-predict-pursue/id1425879996)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Grossing · Weather, #20 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides hourly whitetail deer movement predictions based on weather data. It offers advanced weather forecasts, GPS mapping tools for hunters, and a community forum for sharing hunting experiences and advice.

**Highlights:** Hourly deer movement predictions, Advanced weather forecasts, GPS mapping tools, Property line and hunting land maps, Anatomical deer tracking advice, Hunting articles and community forum

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DeerCast Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| DeerCast Elite | $29.99 | per year |
| DeerCast Elite + | $49.99 | per year |
| DeerCast Unlimited | $74.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate deer movement predictions
- 🚀 Comprehensive hunting data in one app
- 💡 Helpful features like wind check and shot tracker
- 🔍 Customizable to local hunting areas
- 📽️ Informative videos and content from experts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Inaccurate predictions for some regions
- 🤔 Inconsistent performance and updates
- 🚫 Not available for Canadian users
- 🔍 Deer movement not always matching predictions

**Reported bugs**

- Screens freezing or crashing when using certain features
- Incorrect sunrise/sunset times and moon phase information
- Deer movement predictions changing unexpectedly throughout the day

**Requested features**

- Ability to view forecast more than 5 days in advance
- Option to switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit
- More detailed historical weather and deer movement data
- Improved app stability and performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ice Report free?

Ice Report is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is DeerCast free?

DeerCast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ice Report or DeerCast?

DeerCast is rated higher. Ice Report averages 3.2 out of 5 from 82 ratings, while DeerCast averages 4.5 from 7.1K ratings.

### Do Ice Report or DeerCast have ads?

Ice Report shows ads; DeerCast does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ice Report or DeerCast?

Ice Report ships an update every 5 months, and DeerCast every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ice Report was updated on November 2, 2026 and DeerCast on November 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Ice Report or DeerCast?

Ice Report currently peaks at #62 in the App Store charts, and DeerCast at #3. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*