Comparison

NVS Explorer vs GeoBallistics

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

Head to head
About

NVS Explorer

Access real-time ocean data for the Pacific Northwest. Visualize conditions from various observing assets, view historical data plots, and share findings via email or SMS. Customize units and save favorite assets for quick access.

Highlights
  • View real-time ocean data
  • Access 24-hour, 7-day, and 30-day data plots
  • Share data plots via email or SMS
  • Searchable list of observing assets
  • Save favorite observing assets
  • Display data in scientific or common units
  • Data plots for tuna fishers
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) Visualization System (NVS), your tool for easy access to data for Pacific Northwest waters, from California to British Columbia. NANOOS is a regional member of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) program and is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide this service. NVS displays data from a diversity of providers, including federal, tribal, state, academic, industry and non-profit organizations, who operate a wide variety of observing assets such as buoys, shore stations, sea-bed and coastal land-based stations. This composite view provides a more comprehensive view of ocean conditions. NVS allows you to browse through a map of all NANOOS observing assets. You can then look at the most current data available, or obtain a plot of the last 7 days. Plots can be saved to your phone or iPod. Plots can shared by either email or SMS. FEATURES: o View the most recent data from all NANOOS observing assets o View 24 hour, 7 day and 30 day plots of data for trends in conditions o Share plots via Email or SMS o Searchable List view of Observing Assets o Favorites o Data display in either Scientific or Common Units o Plots for Tuna Fishers

About

GeoBallistics

This app provides advanced ballistics calculations for rifle shooting. It allows users to create unlimited rifle profiles, connect with weather hardware for atmospheric data, and build/save satellite imagery range cards. Features include a movers calculator, holdover calculator, and Coriolis effect auto-calculation.

Highlights
  • Unlimited Rifle Profiles
  • Atmospheric Data Integration
  • Satellite Imagery Range Cards
  • Movers Calculator
  • Holdover Calculator
  • Advanced Ballistics Solver
  • Coriolis Effect Auto-Calculation
Features
Read full description

About This App: GeoBallistics is a mobile app available for iOS devices and is compatible with Vortex Razor HD 4000 GB and Vortex Relay™ devices. The app allows users the freedom to build and create unlimited rifle profiles, connect with weather-hardware for onsite atmospherics, build/save/export satellite imagery range cards, and more. Key App Features: • Online Rifle Backup • Online Range Card Backup • Match Downloads • Shooting Range Downloads • Movers Calculator • First Ever Holdover calculator • Advanced Ballistics Solver • Comprehensive Bullet Library • Online weather access with station pressure • Free WeatherFlow hardware compatibility • Kestrel LiNK hardware compatibility (PRO version) • Shot-angle calculator • Shot-bearing calculator • Unlimited Rifle Profiles (PRO version) • Ability to save charts to camera roll (PRO version) • Ability to export charts as .csv (PRO version) • Ability to save/load satellite range cards for later use (PRO version) • Muzzle Velocity Truing • Coriolis effect auto-calculated with position and latitude The GeoBallistics mobile app is powered by the BallisticsARC (Ballistics, Atmospherics, and Range Card) solver, and combines the functionality of a ballistics calculator, an atmospheric device, and a GPS rangefinder into one application. The BallisticsARC solver is an advanced 3 DOF solver with provisions for MV vs Temp, Coriolis, spin drift, crosswind jump, moving targets, multiple targets with unique azimuths and angles and much more. GeoBallistics includes 4 modes: HUD Mode, Chart Mode, Map Mode, and Comp Mode. All modes are accessible with 1 custom rifle. In order to add additional rifles and save/export range cards, use Kestrel devices, or backup data online, you must upgrade to the PRO version for a one-time fee. HUD Mode puts everything you need on one screen for a single target. This is also where the moving target feature and max ordinate display is located. Chart Mode is a traditional calculator that allows for a complete solution. Solutions include considerations for gyroscopic drift, Coriolis effect, wind influence, shot angle, atmospheric conditions, and more. Chart Mode also allows FREE integration of the WeatherFlow products. Map Mode allows users to range targets by dropping pins on satellite imagery of a shooting location. Range and solution are displayed by tapping on the target pins. Map Mode also introduces external ballistic data overlays on satellite imagery. These overlays display a bullet's performance along its path according to parameters specified for each rifle profile. Comp Mode allows the user to enter a course of fire with multiple targets with unique variables such as shot angle and shot azimuth. Now features the Holdover Data Zero setting (HDZ) calculator. This is a first-in-class feature that allows you to easily set an optimal zero for holdover stages.

Screenshots

NVS Explorer4 screens
GeoBallistics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NVS Explorer at none against GeoBallistics's 2. NVS Explorer also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.9) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). GeoBallistics's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (247 vs 3). On price, review sentiment, ads 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

Both are free to download. GeoBallistics sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NVS Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NVS Explorer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GeoBallistics has 247 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of NVS Explorer's written reviews are positive against 65% of GeoBallistics's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NVS Explorer ships an update every 3 months, GeoBallistics weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NVS Explorer versus GeoBallistics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNVS ExplorerGeoBallistics
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better3.9 (247 ratings)
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews65.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3247 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB148 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNANOOS-IOOSASSOCIATIONVortex Optics

Customer experience

NVS Explorer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative0.0%

GeoBallistics

All ratings247 ratings
Positive71.7%
Neutral7.7%
Negative20.6%
Written reviews136 reviews
Positive65.4%
Neutral8.1%
Negative26.5%

Bugs and requests

NVS Explorer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

GeoBallistics

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unable to edit rifle profiles
  • Inability to connect with Vortex rangefinder
  • Crashes on launch for some users

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to display ballistic charts in inches
  • Support for reticles from other manufacturers
  • Downloadable offline map data
  • Apple Watch companion app

In-app purchases

None

NVS Explorer

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

GeoBallistics

One-time2
  • WINDmeter CompatibilityFree
  • BallisticARC PRO$14.99

Questions

Is NVS Explorer free?
NVS Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GeoBallistics free?
GeoBallistics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NVS Explorer or GeoBallistics?
NVS Explorer is rated higher. NVS Explorer averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while GeoBallistics averages 3.9 from 247 ratings.
Do NVS Explorer or GeoBallistics have ads?
Neither NVS Explorer nor GeoBallistics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NVS Explorer or GeoBallistics?
NVS Explorer ships an update every 3 months, and GeoBallistics weekly. Most recently, NVS Explorer was updated on October 9, 2026 and GeoBallistics on October 10, 2026.

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