Comparison

METAR Plot vs METAR Widgets

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

Head to head
About

METAR Plot

Access up-to-date METAR station data for airports worldwide. View station models and raw METARs, manage custom and nearby station lists, and customize flight rules and units. This app works independently on your Apple Watch.

Highlights
  • Worldwide airport METAR data
  • Station models and raw reports
  • Nearby and user-defined station lists
  • Offline station database access
  • Automatic data updates
  • Customizable flight rules and units
  • Watch face complications
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

METAR Plot for Apple Watch displays station models (plots) as well as raw METARs for most airports worldwide, using current METAR data.  The app features two stations lists: nearby and user-defined. While the entire station database can be used offline (to add station or lookup nearby station), an internet connection is required to load METAR data. Data is updated automatically. Preferences can be set for type of flight rules and units (visibility, temperature, and pressure). Options for observation time in LT or UTC as well as sort order of user list. The app works completely independent from your iPhone and includes complications for watch faces with rectangular and circular types.

About

METAR Widgets

Display real-time weather information directly on your home screen with customizable widgets. Choose from various themes and smart display options to see essential weather data at a glance. Access full details and save favorite stations within the app.

Highlights
  • Customizable home screen widgets
  • Real-time weather updates
  • Multiple theme options
  • Smart weather condition display
  • Raw METAR text view
  • Save favorite weather stations
  • Dark mode support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

What better way to keep abreast of current conditions than with a beautiful METAR widget, right on your home screen? Although these widgets look simple, they’ve been carefully designed and built to give you the most important information at a glance, while meshing seamlessly with iOS17’s features and design language. Here are a few of the things that make these widgets special: THEMES Choose a subtle theme that looks right at home on your iPhone or iPad, or a more bold and colorful theme that catches your eye more effectively. SMART… Each widget can figure out what weather factors to display. Generally, special weather conditions (e.g. rain, show, haze, smoke, tornadoes) take precedence, followed by any conditions that caused the current flight condition, like low cloud bases or limited visibility. Wind is always visible. … OR NOT Alternatively, you can use the “Retro” theme to display raw METAR text and practice your interpretation skills (great for exam prep). Protip - put both widget types in a Stack (drag one on top of the other), so you can flip between them! REALTIME All METAR widgets update in realtime, in the background. You can force a refresh anytime by simply launching the app. DARK MODE Widgets seamlessly follow the system-wide light/dark mode setting, which means they’ll be easier on your eyes once the sun goes down. Also, all colors across the app and widgets have been tuned to reduce eye strain when viewing in low-light conditions. FULL METAR VIEW Tap on any widget to launch the app and view the full details. Here, you can also toggle between visual and text modes. SAVE YOUR FAVORITE STATIONS You can save and manage your favorite stations in the app, which makes it even faster to set up a new widget. Thanks for reading this far! I’m an experienced software developer and a new PPL, and I built this while learning to fly in a J-3 cub. All proceeds will go to tailwheel time, and any feedback/reviews are much appreciated!

Screenshots

METAR Widgets4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: METAR Widgets at 3.8 against METAR Plot's 3.4. METAR Widgets also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (76% vs 60%). METAR Plot's advantage is price ($1.49 vs $2.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position 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

METAR Plot costs $1.49 and METAR Widgets $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

METAR Widgets holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: METAR Widgets has 48 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of METAR Plot's written reviews are positive against 76% of METAR Widgets's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

METAR Plot ships an update every 2 months, METAR Widgets every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
METAR Plot versus METAR Widgets: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMETAR PlotMETAR Widgets
Price$1.49 — better$2.99
Rating3.4 (5 ratings)3.8 (48 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews75.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings548 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#188#125 — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLakehorn AGCornfield Creative, LLC

Customer experience

METAR Plot

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

METAR Widgets

All ratings48 ratings
Positive72.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative22.9%
Written reviews41 reviews
Positive75.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative19.5%

Bugs and requests

METAR Plot

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

METAR Widgets

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Widgets do not update automatically
  • Widgets do not work at all
  • App does not load data
  • Airport selection is not working
  • Missing some airports when searching
Show 2 more
  • App stopped working
  • Widget says station is unreachable after airplane mode

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add lock screen widget
  • Add D-ATIS integration
  • Add TAF in detailed view
  • Add F scales and customizable options
  • Add TAF access
Show 6 more
  • Add wide widget option
  • Add option for multiple stations
  • Add runway wind indicator
  • Add temperature in Fahrenheit
  • Add choice between C° or F°
  • Add ability to choose airport from app

In-app purchases

None

METAR Plot

No in-app purchases

None

METAR Widgets

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is METAR Plot free?
METAR Plot costs $1.49, with no in-app purchases.
Is METAR Widgets free?
METAR Widgets costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, METAR Plot or METAR Widgets?
METAR Widgets is rated higher. METAR Plot averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while METAR Widgets averages 3.8 from 48 ratings.
Do METAR Plot or METAR Widgets have ads?
Neither METAR Plot nor METAR Widgets shows ads.
Which is updated more often, METAR Plot or METAR Widgets?
METAR Plot ships an update every 2 months, and METAR Widgets every 9 days. Most recently, METAR Plot was updated on October 7, 2026 and METAR Widgets on October 11, 2026.
Which is more popular, METAR Plot or METAR Widgets?
METAR Plot currently peaks at #188 in the App Store charts, and METAR Widgets at #125. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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