VIC Fires vs The Standard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VIC Fires
Stay informed about bushfires in Victoria, Australia. This app uses official data and your location to show the nearest fires, helping you understand your current situation. Requires internet access for up-to-date information.
- Up-to-date bushfire information
- Uses official CFA/Dept. of Sustainability data
- Integrates Bureau of Meteorology wind data
- Shows nearest fires first
- Utilizes iPhone GPS for location
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This application is designed to provide up to date information about bush fire data in Victoria, Australia for iPhone, iPad and iPod users. It utilises data from the Victorian Country Fire Authority/Victorian Department of Sustainability data feeds on fires, wind data from the Bureau of Meteorology with your current location provided by the iPhone GPS. Using this information the application is able to provide a list of fires showing the nearest ones first, helping you to understand your current situation. The information is reliant on both the accuracy of the iPhone GPS and the data recorded on the CFA's website. This application does not cache any data, so Internet access (either Wireless. 3G or GPRS) is required to access the data. We have enabled this application for the iPod Touch as well, but note that the GPS location and therefore distance from the fire may be unreliable. Be aware that while P4G has utilised "best efforts" to provide this information to you, it is not intended to replace other sources of information on the fire situation near you. Also remember that fire and weather can change quickly. All data is provided Copyright from the Victorian Country Fire Authority and the Victorian Department of Sustainability. Follow P4G on twitter at P4G_Apps
The Standard
Stay informed with local and national news, sports results, and in-depth analysis. Access breaking news 24/7, save articles for later, and enjoy interactive puzzles. A digital replica of the daily newspaper is also available.
- Breaking news updates 24/7
- Browse articles by topic
- Save articles for later
- Breaking news alerts
- Digital newspaper replica
- Daily interactive puzzles
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The Standard app brings together the best of your daily newspaper and its website to take your local news experience to another level. As south-west Victoria's trusted voice, we keep you up to date seven days a week with news that’s important to our community. Whether it's the breaking news you need to know from around the region or across the nation, the latest HFNL, WDFNL, or other local sporting results, in-depth analysis explaining the decisions and events affecting our lives, or incisive commentary, you will be the first to know using The Standard app. The app is free to download, but you need to be a digital subscriber of The Standard to read articles. Features include: - Access to breaking news updates 24 hours-a-day - Browse the latest articles in the topics that interest you most - Save articles to read later - Alerts for breaking news and big stories - Read a digital replica of the day's newspaper - Play our daily interactive puzzles Please note: This app features Nielsen's proprietary measurement software which will allow you to contribute to market research or audience ratings services. Please see http://www.nielsen.com/digitalprivacy for more information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: VIC Fires at 66% against The Standard's 18%. VIC Fires also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). The Standard's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99). On 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
The Standard is free to download; VIC Fires costs $0.99 up front. The Standard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. VIC Fires asks for nothing beyond the download.
VIC Fires ships an update every 3 weeks, The Standard every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VIC Fires | The Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (21 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.9% of reviews — better | 18.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 21 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #56 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | P4G Pty Ltd | Rural Press Pty Ltd |
Customer experience
VIC Fires
The Standard
Bugs and requests
VIC Fires
Reported bugs
35 issues- Main icon needs dark theme support
- Map is not moving smoothly across the state
- Screen keeps freezing
- Continually freezes
- Constantly freezes
Show 30 moreShow fewer
- Map glitches and freeze
- Very laggy
- Cannot delete watch zones
- Watchzones i've previously created cannot be deleted
- App takes a couple of times to get the information up
- Self generating watch zones and will not delete
- Fires listed are often not shown on the map
- Notifications are on but it doesn’t notify me when there’s a fire
- Settings don’t update as requested
- App unable to show Watch & Act details
- Mistake on map (roundabout missing)
- Properties under threat not updated for days
- Crashes when you try and adjust the settings
- Fire Ratings Forecast portion has disappeared
- Crashing problems when clicking town weather icon
- Yellow skin all over victoria makes it hard to see under it
- Tree Down and Building Damage notifications are irrelevant
- App won't open or crashes
- Map doesn't show fire edge like NSW version
- Updates are terrible, not updating for days
- Map doesn't show where the actual fire edge is
- Updates need to be more timely and informative
- Can only set a Watch Zone for current location
- Jumbled and difficult to find a fire in your area
- Flame symbols are distracting and cover too much area
- Hard to see simply where the fire has burnt
- Watch zone function does not work (deletes within minutes)
- Cannot search for a location by entering an address
- Some map notifications missing for specific areas
- Hotspot feature reduced
Requested features
19 requests- Add iOS dark icon theme support
- More information about fires and emergencies
- Add KML/KMZ compatibility for OzRunways
- Include local fire restriction dates
- Allow reporting of intended burning off
Show 14 moreShow fewer
- Show fire edge on map like NSW version
- Add address search function
- Improve map legend and explanation
- Add a help page for new users
- Allow selection of multiple watch zones for friends/family
- Show types of vehicles, helicopters, planes
- Include evacuation center locations
- Live wind direction and speed
- Show fire boundaries more clearly
- Re-add building fire alarm call outs
- Update for FRV
- Filter notifications or allow user control
- Add rain radar
- Add satellite image view option
The Standard
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
VIC Fires
No in-app purchases
The Standard
- Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$129.991 Year
