# LuckGrib vs Hanalei River

The clearest difference is price: LuckGrib at Free against Hanalei River's $0.99. LuckGrib also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 67%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). Hanalei River's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

LuckGrib is free to download; Hanalei River costs $0.99 up front. LuckGrib sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Hanalei River asks for nothing beyond the download.

LuckGrib holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LuckGrib has 343 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of LuckGrib's written reviews are positive against 67% of Hanalei River's.

LuckGrib ships an update every 2 months, Hanalei River every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LuckGrib | Hanalei River |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (343 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luckgrib/id1318450117/reviews)** | [4.5 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanalei-river/id1599017267/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **343** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | **92.7% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#42** |
| Size | 173 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Craig McPheeters](https://appshunter.io/developer/590365129) | [ONOSOL LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1252773943) |

## What reviewers say

### LuckGrib

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luckgrib/id1318450117)

This app provides advanced weather data visualization, downloading, and routing for sailors and weather enthusiasts. It offers access to a wide range of global and high-resolution weather and ocean models, with features for optimizing routes and analyzing complex weather parameters. Remote access via satellite is also supported.

**Highlights:** GRIB file reader, viewer, and downloader, Advanced weather routing and route analysis, Satellite data access, High-resolution global and regional weather models, Ocean current models, Detailed weather parameter analysis

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14-day Trial | Free | one-time |
| 14 day trial of Offshore Data | Free | one-time |
| 14 day Weather Routing trial | Free | one-time |
| LuckGrib weather data access | $29.99 | one-time |
| Premium Offshore Data access | $59.99 | one-time |
| Weather Routing access | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent weather forecasting and routing
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💡 Wide range of weather models and data sources
- 🚢 Tailored for sailors and offshore navigation
- 💰 One-time purchase, no subscription fees

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional issues with GRIB file downloads
- ⚠️ Steep learning curve for some features
- 🔍 Lack of support for some boat types (e.g., catamarans)

**Reported bugs**

- Reported issues with 'no wind data for start time'
- Occasional app crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Integration with boat instruments and data logging
- More advanced routing options and customization
- Improved support for regional weather models


### Hanalei River

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanalei-river/id1599017267)

**Currently charting:** #42 Top Paid · Weather (US App Store)

Monitor river gauge heights and road conditions on Kaua'i during heavy rains. Access real-time data from USGS river gauges and view traffic camera feeds to check road accessibility. Future updates will include push notifications for rising river levels.

**Highlights:** USGS river gauge height monitoring, Hanalei Initiative road camera access, All Kaua'i river gauge data, Push notifications for rising rivers (upcoming)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LuckGrib free?

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

### Is Hanalei River free?

Hanalei River costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LuckGrib or Hanalei River?

LuckGrib is rated higher. LuckGrib averages 4.9 out of 5 from 343 ratings, while Hanalei River averages 4.5 from 22 ratings.

### Do LuckGrib or Hanalei River have ads?

Neither LuckGrib nor Hanalei River shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LuckGrib or Hanalei River?

LuckGrib ships an update every 2 months, and Hanalei River every 2 weeks. Most recently, LuckGrib was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hanalei River on October 30, 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.*