Comparison

AvyPal vs ARVA

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

Head to head
About

AvyPal

This app assists backcountry travelers in identifying avalanche terrain using their phone's camera. It offers three modes to assess slope angles and avalanche risk with color-coded indicators and audible alerts for dangerous areas.

Highlights
  • Camera-based terrain analysis
  • Fall Line Mode for ascents/descents
  • Slope Mode for crossing terrain
  • GPS Mode with audible alerts
  • Color-coded risk indicators
  • Route choice decision support
Read full description

AvyPal is an avalanche awareness safety app for the iPhone. The AvyPal phone app can assist backcountry travelers in identifying potential avalanche terrain. AvyPal is a simple "see through" app that uses the phone's camera view to let you view the terrain you are approaching. Three different modes are available to fit the backcountry situations you often encounter: Fall Line Mode - Shows the angle and avalanche risk of a slope you intend to descend, or ascend. Slope Mode - Shows the angle and avalanche risk of a slope you intend to cross. GPS Mode - Uses GPS data to audibly alert you if you are descending or ascending a slope angle that is associated with avalanche risk. Audible alerts are given every 5 seconds if in avalanche terrain. A graph is also shown in the mode so you can review if you have recently travelled in dangerous terrain. AvyPal uses color-coded indicators to indicate the avalanche risk of backcountry terrain. Red indicates a high probability avalanche slope (30-45 degrees). Yellow indicates a lower probability avalanche slope (25-30 degrees or 45-50 degrees). Green indicates slopes of less likely avalanche potential (less than 25 degrees or greater than 50 degrees). AvyPal is a backcountry tool for help in making route choice decisions. AvyPal does not replace professional avalanche safety training, experience or good judgement. Get avalanche awareness and safety training before traveling in the backcountry. Have fun in the backcountry. And if you have a question about the safety of the snow slope ahead ... don't hesitate to ask your AvyPal for advice!

About

ARVA

Access avalanche risk bulletins for various European and American regions. Configure your ARVA NEO BT PRO device, perform diagnostics, and engage in training modules for avalanche safety and search procedures. Includes a trip preparation checklist.

Highlights
  • Avalanche risk bulletins
  • NEO BT PRO device configuration
  • Transceiver diagnostics
  • Snow Safety Program training
  • Group Check procedure guide
  • Search training simulations
  • Trip preparation checklist
Features
Read full description

**** Avalanche Risk Bulletins **** To help you plan your itinerary, you can find the Avalanche Bulletins for your favorite American, French, Swiss, Austrian and Italian regions. These are updated as soon as they are published. Find the widgets so the Avalanche Bulletins show up on the home page of your smartphone. **** NEO BT PRO **** The ARVA app has been designed as a support tool for our NEO BT PRO, as it allows users to configure their device. The tool has various options, such as fine search distance, Standby mode time or an alarm to tell you your device has been on for too long. You can also choose between digital or analog sound when in digital mode. **** Update and diagnostics**** Carry out maintenance of your transceiver directly in the app via Bluetooth. **** Training**** The ARVA app also has a training function, as it includes our Snow Safety Program. You can use the app to open or revise basic theory on avalanche safety. **** Group Check**** The “Group Check” section helps you understand and, more importantly, master the Group Check procedure. You will find a detailed users’ guide in the app. **** Search training**** Use our “SEARCH” section to practice searching for burials. You can do this while connected, thanks to the NEO BT PRO and fleet management, or more simply using any other device. You can perform search training with single burials or multiple burial situations. This program provides very realistic training. **** Preparing for a trip **** The app has a “Trip” tab which includes a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything when preparing for your trip. The checklist is comprehensive, from a review of your itinerary to the food you will need. Find other features in our ARVA app.

Screenshots

AvyPal3 screens
ARVA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ARVA at Free against AvyPal's $1.99. ARVA also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 17 months). AvyPal's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 57%) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, ratings volume, 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

ARVA is free to download; AvyPal costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for AvyPal against 5.0 for ARVA. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of AvyPal's written reviews are positive against 57% of ARVA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AvyPal ships an update every 17 months, ARVA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and June 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AvyPal versus ARVA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAvyPalARVA
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 17 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB405 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimothy KelleyNIC IMPEX SA

Customer experience

AvyPal

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ARVA

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

In-app purchases

None

AvyPal

No in-app purchases

None

ARVA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AvyPal free?
AvyPal costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ARVA free?
ARVA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AvyPal or ARVA?
AvyPal and ARVA are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do AvyPal or ARVA have ads?
ARVA shows ads; AvyPal does not.
Which is updated more often, AvyPal or ARVA?
AvyPal ships an update every 17 months, and ARVA every 2 months. Most recently, AvyPal was updated on September 28, 2026 and ARVA on June 27, 2026.

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