Comparison

SaskAlert vs SaskNOW

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

Head to head
About

SaskAlert

Receive real-time, critical information about emergencies directly from the Government of Saskatchewan. Protect yourself, your family, and your property with alerts tailored to your location and preferences. Stay informed about life-threatening situations and receive clear safety instructions.

Highlights
  • Real-time critical emergency alerts
  • Location-based alerts
  • Follow Me feature for alerts near current location
  • View alert areas on map
  • Share alerts easily
  • Detailed safety instructions
  • Customizable alert types
Features
Read full description

SaskAlert is the Government of Saskatchewan's official emergency alerting program, providing real-time, critical information on emergencies to help you protect yourself, your family, and your property. Key features of the SaskAlert App: • Alerts for life-threatening and emerging situations • Alerts based on locations you're interested in • "Follow Me" feature to get alerts near your current location, even when traveling outside Saskatchewan • View alert areas on a map • Easily share alerts via social media, email, and text • Detailed emergency descriptions, impacted areas, and safety instructions • Simple setup and user-friendly interface • Choose the types of alerts you want to receive • Accessibility features for users of all abilities • Multilingual, with the option to translate alerts into your device's default language An emergency alert issued through SaskAlert will: • let you know what the emergency is; • let you know where it is happening; • provide instructions for you to follow to stay safe; • and advise you when the incident is over. Alerts can be issued by Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations, agencies, local governing bodies, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Provincial ministries, Crown corporations, and local authorities issue alerts for emergencies within their areas of responsibility that may impact life and safety. Policing agencies issue alerts to warn the public of imminent potential risks to their safety, child abductions, and critical incidents. ECCC provides alerts for severe weather events, including: • Tornado watches and warnings • Warnings for blizzards, blowing snow, dust storms, extreme cold, freezing drizzle, freezing rain, heat, rainfall, severe thunderstorms, snowfall, high winds, and winter storms

About

SaskNOW

Features
Read full description

saskNOW is Saskatchewan’s one-stop site for local news and information. Our content is made up of contributions from four different newsrooms across the province including paNOW.com, battlefordsNOW.com, meadowlakeNOW.com and northeastNOW.com. When you combine our newsrooms, we have 19 journalists making us THE hub of information in Saskatchewan.

Screenshots

SaskAlert4 screens
SaskNOW4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SaskAlert at none against SaskNOW's shown. SaskAlert also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SaskAlert ships an update every 4 months, SaskNOW every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SaskAlert versus SaskNOW: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSaskAlertSaskNOW
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (56 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews56.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings56 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB38 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperGovernment of SaskatchewanPattison Media Ltd.

Bugs and requests

SaskAlert

Reported bugs

23 issues
  • Alerts come after the event
  • App seems to be broken
  • Cannot delete reviews
  • App stops working on devices
  • Alerts arrive too frequently
Show 18 more
  • App cancels alert then storm happens
  • Alerts are continuously sent with nothing happening
  • Not getting audibles on Tornado & getting audible on thunderstorms
  • Map shows empty map instead of fire locations
  • Alerts for entire province and never stops sending
  • Tried to narrow location but help in app is useless
  • Alert notification is too loud
  • Alert notification is too loud and can startle drivers
  • Alerts are too loud, hard on ears with headphones
  • Alerts are repetitive and interruptive
  • Alerts are the same for months
  • Alerts have false alarms
  • Alerts are late
  • Alerts are for areas not relevant to preferences
  • App doesn't give specific location
  • Town moved to neighboring province in alert
  • No sounds, no vibrations for notifications
  • Proof scanning feature does not work

Requested features

13 requests
  • Ability to select specific areas for warnings
  • Ability to delete old alerts
  • Specify location when warnings are issued
  • Improve audible alerts for different weather types
  • Volume setting for alerts
Show 8 more
  • Option to only receive alerts for serious situations
  • Identify new alerts with a star or icon
  • Alerts should speak like global weather tracker
  • Alerts should repeat or buzz longer
  • Alerts should provide more specific location information
  • Alerts should provide more detailed storm information (direction, movement)
  • Improve app's ability to scan proof
  • Link to website should be less confusing

SaskNOW

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SaskAlert

No in-app purchases

None

SaskNOW

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SaskAlert free?
SaskAlert is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SaskNOW free?
SaskNOW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SaskAlert or SaskNOW have ads?
SaskNOW shows ads; SaskAlert does not.
Which is updated more often, SaskAlert or SaskNOW?
SaskAlert ships an update every 4 months, and SaskNOW every 12 months. Most recently, SaskAlert was updated on September 24, 2026 and SaskNOW on September 15, 2026.

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