# PNW Current Atlas vs Tides Explorer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tides Explorer at 100% against PNW Current Atlas's 44%. Tides Explorer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 11 months). PNW Current Atlas's advantage is chart position (#190 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PNW Current Atlas sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Tides Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Tides Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of PNW Current Atlas's written reviews are positive against 100% of Tides Explorer's.

PNW Current Atlas ships an update every 11 months, Tides Explorer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PNW Current Atlas | Tides Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pnw-current-atlas/id1456020312/reviews) | **[5.0 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tides-explorer/id6446066346/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **33** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | 43.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#190** | — |
| Size | 56 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TinyOctopus, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/507385773) | [Lonnie Millett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620072866) |

## What reviewers say

### PNW Current Atlas

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pnw-current-atlas/id1456020312)

**Currently charting:** #190 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Access detailed current prediction charts for the Pacific Northwest, covering regions like the Juan de Fuca Strait and San Juan Islands. View any date or time within the current year with free yearly updates, and use the app offline.

**Highlights:** View past/future date/time predictions, Daylight savings time correction, Jump to 'Now' prediction, Swipe/tap to move through time, Zoomable prediction details, Offline functionality, Free yearly updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3-Day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Current Atlas unlimited access | $19.99 | one-time |


### Tides Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tides-explorer/id6446066346)

This app provides accurate tide, current, and weather predictions using official NOAA data for thousands of stations. Plan your water activities with clear charts, sun/moon information, and customizable widgets.

**Highlights:** Accurate tide and current predictions, Fast station search, Favorites for quick access, Interactive charts, Weather data at stations, Sun, moon, and twilight info, Home and Lock Screen widgets

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime purchase | $3.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PNW Current Atlas free?

PNW Current Atlas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Tides Explorer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PNW Current Atlas or Tides Explorer?

Tides Explorer is rated higher. PNW Current Atlas averages 3.5 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Tides Explorer averages 5.0 from 26 ratings.

### Do PNW Current Atlas or Tides Explorer have ads?

Neither PNW Current Atlas nor Tides Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PNW Current Atlas or Tides Explorer?

PNW Current Atlas ships an update every 11 months, and Tides Explorer every 2 months. Most recently, PNW Current Atlas was updated on November 2, 2026 and Tides Explorer on November 3, 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.*