Comparison

METAR Plot vs Visibility Tool

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

Visibility Tool

This app transforms your phone into a weather sensor to measure local visibility for safe and legal flights. Simply point your camera at the horizon and capture a photo to get an accurate visibility metric, usable even without cell service.

Highlights
  • Measures local visibility
  • Converts phone into weather sensor
  • Works offline, no cell service needed
  • Provides visibility metric (1-10+ miles)
  • Supports drone and general aviation compliance
  • Useful for first responders and Medevac
Currently charting
Read full description

Accurately determine local visibility to ensure your flight is safe and legal by turning your mobile phone into a weather sensor. The simple point-and-click capability enables anyone globally to determine local visibility, even in flight. The technology works by pointing the mobile phone camera towards the horizon and then angling up until the view is unobstructed by buildings, trees or other foreground objects. Users take a photo in any direction they want and the technology responds with a visibility metric ranging from 1-10+ miles (1.6-16+ kilometers). Visibility Tool software is downloaded on your device. It is not cloud-based and does not require cell service. As such, drone operations can be flown weather compliantly within the national airspace from your backyard to the remotest of destinations. Similarly, pilots can use the tool at altitude where cell service is not available. More information is available at https://lowaltitudeweathernetwork.com/ Visibility tool applications include: - UAS and drone operations (Instantaneous FAA part 107.51 regulatory visibility compliance for every UAS operation) - General aviation (As part of your preflight, obtain instantaneous FAR 14 CFR section 91.155 regulatory visibility compliance for your VFR operation) - First responder and Medevac flights (This tool allows First Responders to instantly determine if Medevac can be safely initiated or alternatively, ground transport is necessary because of poor visibility) - Other use cases: Ground transportation, Maritime operations, Athletic and outdoor activities, Pulmonary and health monitoring Accurate visibility is important because low visibility is a leading cause of weather-related accidents/fatalities in General Aviation, Helicopter/Medevac, UAS and ground transportation.

Screenshots

Visibility Tool3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Visibility Tool at 5.0 against METAR Plot's 3.4. Visibility Tool also leads on chart position (#45 vs #188) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). METAR Plot's advantage is price ($1.49 vs $9.99) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

METAR Plot costs $1.49 and Visibility Tool $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Visibility Tool holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: METAR Plot has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of METAR Plot's written reviews are positive against 50% of Visibility Tool's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

METAR Plot ships an update every 2 months, Visibility Tool every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
METAR Plot versus Visibility Tool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMETAR PlotVisibility Tool
Price$1.49 — better$9.99
Rating3.4 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#188#45 — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB1006 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLakehorn AGFlightprofiler, LLC

Customer experience

METAR Plot

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

Visibility Tool

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

METAR Plot

No in-app purchases

None

Visibility Tool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is METAR Plot free?
METAR Plot costs $1.49, with no in-app purchases.
Is Visibility Tool free?
Visibility Tool costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, METAR Plot or Visibility Tool?
Visibility Tool is rated higher. METAR Plot averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Visibility Tool averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do METAR Plot or Visibility Tool have ads?
Neither METAR Plot nor Visibility Tool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, METAR Plot or Visibility Tool?
METAR Plot ships an update every 2 months, and Visibility Tool every 5 months. Most recently, METAR Plot was updated on October 7, 2026 and Visibility Tool on October 2, 2026.
Which is more popular, METAR Plot or Visibility Tool?
METAR Plot currently peaks at #188 in the App Store charts, and Visibility Tool at #45. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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