Comparison

National Hurricane Center Data vs VFR Weather Basic

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

Head to head
About

National Hurricane Center Data

Access comprehensive hurricane tracking data, including satellite imagery, official advisories, and prediction graphics. Receive push notifications for tropical weather and view detailed storm forecasts. Features include spaghetti models, wind probabilities, and local threat assessments.

Highlights
  • GOES Satellite Imagery Animations
  • National Hurricane Center Products
  • National Weather Service Alerts
  • Tropical Weather Push Notifications
  • Spaghetti Models
  • Forecast Graphics
  • Apple Watch App
Features
Read full description

Download the most comprehensive Hurricane Tracker app for iOS. MAIN FEATURES INCLUDE: + GOES Satellite Imagery Animations + National Hurricane Center Products + National Weather Service Alerts + Weather Prediction Center Graphics + Tropical Weather Push Notifications + Satellite Imagery Home Screen Widget + Spaghetti Models GRAPHICAL PRODUCTS INCLUDE: Forecast Graphics - Spaghetti Models - 7-Day Tropical Weather Outlook - 3-Day Excessive Rainfall Outlook - 7-Day Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Storm Specific Graphics - Key Messages - Cone Track Forecast - Tropical Storm Wind (Most Likely) - Tropical Storm Wind (Earliest) - Hurricane Wind Probability - Surface Wind Field - Surface Wind Analysis - Wind / Track History - Rainfall Forecast - Flash Flood Risk Local Storm Threat Graphics - Flooding Rain Threat - Wind Threat - Surge Threat - Tornado Threat - Rainfall Totals - Wind Warnings Note: Local threat graphics are typically not available until shortly before storm landfall. TEXT PRODUCTS INCLUDE: - Tropical Weather Outlook - Forecast Advisories - Public Advisories - Forecast Office Discussion - Local Statement (HLS) - Local Warnings (TCV) - Tropical Discussion - Wind Analysis WEATHER MAP OVERLAYS INCLUDE:  - Hurricane Track & Intensity - Potential Storm Surge Flooding - NASA Sea Surface Temperature - NOAA Weather Radar GOES SATELLITE IMAGERY INCLUDES: Fifteen (15) Satellite Imagery Filters - Visible (Band 2) - Near IR (Bands 4 & 5) - Infrared (Bands 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 & 16) - Nighttime Microphysics - Day Cloud Phase - True Color - Air Mass - Sandwich APPLE WATCH APP INCLUDES: - View wind speed & intensity updates every 30 minutes - View the latest satellite imagery - Choose from a variety of Watch Complications -- PRO SUBSCRIPTION FEATURES -- Full Screen, High Resolution Satellite Imagery: - Latest Image - Animated Loop - Mesoscale: Near Real-time Imagery - Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) Mesoscale imagery typically has 1-minute temporal resolution, but is not always available for each storm. 16-day Weather Forecast Models: - Global Forecast System (GFS) - AI Global Forecast System (AIGFS) - Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) - North American Ensemble (NAEFS) Weather Simulation Forecast Models: - Hi-Res Rapid Refresh (HRRR) - Hi-Res Ensemble Forecast (HREF) - North American Mesoscale (NAM) - Hi-Res North American Mesoscale (NAM-HIRES) - High Resolution Window (HRW-FV3, HRW-ARW, HRW-ARW2) - WaveWatch III (WW3) - European Centre for Medium-Range Weather (ECMWF) - ECMWF AI Forecast System (AIFS) Hurricane Models (HAFS, HMON, HWRF, CTCX) Experimental Forecast Animations: - Simulated Radar 2km - Surface Pressure, Wind - 200mb Temp, Ht, Wind - 700mb RH, Ht, Wind - 850mb Vort, Wind, Thick Model Analysis & Guidance Animations: - 6h Total Precipitation - 10m Wind - 200mb Vort, Wind, Ht - 500mb Relative Humidity - 700mb Vort, Wind, Ht - 850mb Vort, Wind, Ht NCEP / ECMWF Cyclogenesis Tracking Products - 10-day ECMWF Cyclogenesis - 12-day ECMWF Strike Probability - 28-day ECMWF Tropical Cyclone Activity - 10-day Probability of Formation - 16-day Storm Forecast Tracks - 21-day Global Tropics Hazards Outlook - 35-day Long Range Probability - 15-day Deepmind FNV3 Cyclogenesis CIMSS Tropical Cyclone Products - Wind Vorticity & Shear Analysis - Steering Layer Analysis - Morphed Integrated Microwave Imagery - Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADTV9.1) ADT Includes imagery, wind radii estimates & trends Interactive Hurricane Tracker Map - Track & Intensity Forecast - Preliminary Best Track Analysis TERMS & CONDITIONS https://lwbrandsllc.com/hurricane-app-terms-conditions/ -- In total, there are now over 100+ hurricane / weather tracking products to help you stay informed during hurricane season.

About

VFR Weather Basic

Read full description

VFR Weather Basic is a limited version of VFR Weather. It allows you to get the current METAR of an airport (user input of any US airport ICAO code). It will then show the latest METAR report gathered from aviationweather.gov This free version has limitations that the paid VFR Weather app does not: - Only allows METAR, no TAF or Runway information. - Only one airport vs departure, multiple en-route and destinations airports. - Show me button does not show satellite view of airport with wind sock and wind information. - Runway selection for report is disabled (does not show runway details in report page). - Winds Aloft button is disabled.

Screenshots

National Hurricane Center Data4 screens
VFR Weather Basic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VFR Weather Basic at none against National Hurricane Center Data's 2. VFR Weather Basic also leads on ads (none vs shown). National Hurricane Center Data's advantage is chart position (#63 vs unranked) and device support (4 vs 2). On price 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. National Hurricane Center Data sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. VFR Weather Basic asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
National Hurricane Center Data versus VFR Weather Basic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNational Hurricane Center DataVFR Weather Basic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (76K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews86.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings76K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#63 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB9 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperLW Brands, LLCJeff Bieren

Bugs and requests

National Hurricane Center Data

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional app crashes
  • Locked portrait mode on tablets

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved spaghetti model visualization
  • Expanded coverage for non-US regions
  • Clearer explanations of data and maps

VFR Weather Basic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

National Hurricane Center Data

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Subscription (Monthly)3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Pro Subscription (Yearly)3 Days trial$9.991 Year
None

VFR Weather Basic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is National Hurricane Center Data free?
National Hurricane Center Data is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VFR Weather Basic free?
VFR Weather Basic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do National Hurricane Center Data or VFR Weather Basic have ads?
National Hurricane Center Data shows ads; VFR Weather Basic does not.

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