# FloodWatch vs RiverAware

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RiverAware at 100% against FloodWatch's 58%. RiverAware also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). FloodWatch's advantage is ratings volume (314 vs 8). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FloodWatch sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and RiverAware sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

RiverAware holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FloodWatch has 314 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of FloodWatch's written reviews are positive against 100% of RiverAware's.

FloodWatch ships an update every 2 months, RiverAware every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FloodWatch | RiverAware |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (314 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/floodwatch/id386505889/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riveraware/id6473773718/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **314** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 57.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 13 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brian Deshong](https://appshunter.io/developer/386505892) | [Transcend Engineering and Technology, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771028522) |

## What reviewers say

### FloodWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/floodwatch/id386505889)

Monitor real-time river and flood data across the United States. Track river height, discharge, precipitation, and water temperature with data from USGS and NWS. Ideal for property owners, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone needing flood awareness.

**Highlights:** Real-time river data, Historical trends and graphs, Favorites list for gauges, Nationwide US coverage, Flood awareness alerts, Recreation water condition checks

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Level 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tip Level 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Tip Level 3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Ad Removal | $8.99 | one-time |
| Tip Level 4 | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Great information
- 👍 Useful tool
- 👍 Works as advertised
- 👍 Responsive developer

**What reviewers complain about**

-  anúncios Intrusive ads
-  anúncios Loud and disruptive ads
-  anúncios Full-page ads
-  anúncios Ads prevent app usage
- 💰 Expensive ad-free option

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on opening
- App crashes when updating levels
- App crashes when scrolling through favorites
- App crashes a lot
- App kicks out when viewing favorites

**Requested features**

- Add alerts for flood stage
- Add Lock Screen widgets
- Add search bar for gauges
- Add CFS readings
- Add alerts for flow rate


### RiverAware

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riveraware/id6473773718)

Access real-time river levels, flood alerts, and accurate forecasts from over 13,000 stations nationwide. Monitor your favorite rivers, receive custom notifications, and stay informed with severe weather news.

**Highlights:** Real-time river and coastal station data, Interactive map with color-coded pins, Up to 3 months of water-level history, Customizable river alerts, National Weather Service flood forecasts, Official weather alerts and newsfeed, Easy sharing of data and map snapshots

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FloodWatch free?

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

### Is RiverAware free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FloodWatch or RiverAware?

RiverAware is rated higher. FloodWatch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 314 ratings, while RiverAware averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do FloodWatch or RiverAware have ads?

FloodWatch shows ads; RiverAware does not.

### Which is updated more often, FloodWatch or RiverAware?

FloodWatch ships an update every 2 months, and RiverAware every 3 weeks. Most recently, FloodWatch was updated on October 13, 2026 and RiverAware on October 1, 2026.

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