NVS Explorer vs GeoBallistics
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- Unlimited Rifle Profiles
- Atmospheric Data Integration
- Satellite Imagery Range Cards
- Movers Calculator
- Holdover Calculator
- Advanced Ballistics Solver
- Coriolis Effect Auto-Calculation
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. GeoBallistics sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. NVS Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
NVS Explorer ships an update every 3 months, GeoBallistics weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NVS Explorer | GeoBallistics |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (3 ratings) — better | 3.9 (247 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | 65.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 247 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 148 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NANOOS-IOOSASSOCIATION | Vortex Optics |
Customer experience
NVS Explorer
GeoBallistics
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
NVS Explorer
No in-app purchases
GeoBallistics
- WINDmeter CompatibilityFree
- BallisticARC PRO$14.99
Questions
Is NVS Explorer free?
Is GeoBallistics free?
Which has better reviews, NVS Explorer or GeoBallistics?
Do NVS Explorer or GeoBallistics have ads?
Which is updated more often, NVS Explorer or GeoBallistics?
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