# METAR vs WxPlan

The clearest difference is review sentiment: WxPlan at 100% against METAR's 57%. METAR's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. METAR sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and WxPlan sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

METAR ships an update every 4 days, WxPlan every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | METAR | WxPlan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metar/id1597816936/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **22** | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 16 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luke Cashion-Lozell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1446518152) | [WXPLAN PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1802811576) |

## What reviewers say

### METAR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metar/id1597816936)

Access decoded aviation weather reports and forecasts for thousands of airports globally. View nearby weather, runway winds, and customize units. A Pro version offers expanded nearby airport views and home screen widgets.

**Highlights:** Decoded METARs & TAFs, Nearby airport weather, Runway wind components, Search and favorite airports, Customizable units, Light/dark mode, Widgets (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |


### WxPlan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wxplan/id6743429151)

This aviation planning app provides Australian pilots with essential weather and flight planning tools. It offers free access to official NAIPS weather data, including TAF analysis, NOTAM summaries, and holding fuel calculations. The app features auto-updating METARs, offline caching, and customizable settings for a streamlined flight preparation experience.

**Highlights:** NAIPS weather access, Smart TAF analysis, Simplified NOTAMs, Holding fuel calculator, Customizable alternate minima, Auto-updating METAR/ATIS, Offline chart caching

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is METAR free?

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

### Is WxPlan free?

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

### Do METAR or WxPlan have ads?

Neither METAR nor WxPlan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, METAR or WxPlan?

METAR ships an update every 4 days, and WxPlan every 5 weeks. Most recently, METAR was updated on September 25, 2026 and WxPlan on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*