Comparison

KestrelMet Utility vs FWAS

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

Head to head
About

KestrelMet Utility

Features
Read full description

KestrelMet Weather Station Utility App is used to easily connect, configure, and review station information for SIM card settings and diagnostic data. This app is essential for the configuration of KetsrelMet station SIM cards to be deployed outside of North America. The app also displays the status of the station battery voltage, solar panel voltage, last cloud sync date, last app sync date, and signal strength.

About

FWAS

This app provides critical weather information and custom alerts for firefighters to anticipate dangerous fire behavior. It offers map-based access to fire-specific weather data, including RAWS, NWS forecasts, and radar, helping to prevent entrapments.

Highlights
  • Custom weather alerts
  • RAWS/ASOS station data
  • Fire-specific weather forecasts
  • Satellite hotspot mapping
  • Incident location and fire perimeters
  • NWS watches, warnings, and advisories
  • NEXRAD radar data
Features
Read full description

Many firefighters have been entrapped due to rapid changes in weather causing unexpected fire behavior. These weather events are often predictable using local weather measurements and forecasts, but on-the-ground firefighters have historically lacked access to this information. The Fire Weather Alert System provides this access. It monitors nearby weather observations and forecasts to warn firefighters of dangerous incoming weather and provides convenient map-based access to fire-specific weather information (RAWS, NWS zone fire weather forecasts, NEXRAD radar data, etc.). GET CUSTOM WEATHER ALERTS • Get custom weather alerts when wind speed, wind gust, relative humidity, air temperature, and precipitation exceed your set thresholds. • RAWS/ASOS stations and short-term forecasts (HRRR model) are monitored. • Designate the watch area for your fire. • Alerts broadcast using in-app messages, text, and/or email. VIEW RAWS DATA • Select weather stations from a map and view data in graph and tabular form. • Access RAWS, iRAWS, ASOS, and other station networks. VIEW SATELLITE HOTSPOTS • Display VIIRS and MODIS hotspots on the map. VIEW INCIDENT LOCATIONS AND FIRE PERIMETERS • View incident name, type, size, and most recent perimeter (including smaller IA fires). VIEW NWS WATCHES, WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES • See National Weather Service Active Alerts on the map and read the text. • Monitor Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Wind Advisories, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, etc. ACCESS ZONE FIRE WEATHER FORECASTS • Access and read your local fire weather forecast. • See fire weather zone names and boundaries on the map. MONITOR APPROACHING STORMS WITH NEXRAD RADAR • Display animated radar data on the map.

Screenshots

KestrelMet Utility2 screens
FWAS2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: FWAS at 10.0 against KestrelMet Utility's 13.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KestrelMet Utility ships an update every 8 months, FWAS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
KestrelMet Utility versus FWAS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKestrelMet UtilityFWAS
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.3 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—10 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size70 MB200 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNielsen-Kellerman Co.US Forest Service

In-app purchases

None

KestrelMet Utility

No in-app purchases

None

FWAS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KestrelMet Utility free?
KestrelMet Utility is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FWAS free?
FWAS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do KestrelMet Utility or FWAS have ads?
Neither KestrelMet Utility nor FWAS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KestrelMet Utility or FWAS?
KestrelMet Utility ships an update every 8 months, and FWAS every 4 months. Most recently, KestrelMet Utility was updated on October 9, 2026 and FWAS on October 24, 2026.

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