# NOAA CBIBS vs Methow Air

The clearest difference is rating: NOAA CBIBS at 4.5 against Methow Air's 3.4. NOAA CBIBS also leads on update cadence (every 9 months vs every 39 months). Methow Air's advantage is ratings volume (9 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

NOAA CBIBS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of NOAA CBIBS's written reviews are positive against 50% of Methow Air's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

NOAA CBIBS ships an update every 9 months, Methow Air every 39 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NOAA CBIBS | Methow Air |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noaa-cbibs/id439920948/reviews)** | [3.4 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/methow-air/id1003393522/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **9** |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 months** | Every 39 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 15 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **18.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chesapeake Conservancy](https://appshunter.io/developer/439920951) | [brian drye](https://appshunter.io/developer/317016359) |

## What reviewers say

### NOAA CBIBS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noaa-cbibs/id439920948)

Access real-time weather and water data collected by smart buoys in the Chesapeake Bay. This information supports the use and management of a healthy bay, improving safety, economy, and environmental protection.

**Highlights:** Real-time weather data, Real-time water data, Chesapeake Bay information, Supports bay management, Improves safety and environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Methow Air

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/methow-air/id1003393522)

Monitor real-time air quality in the Methow Valley with data from local monitoring stations. Get current burn ban information for Okanogan County and check visibility via webcam images. This app provides essential environmental data for the region.

**Highlights:** Current air quality conditions, Air monitoring station data, Okanogan County burn ban info, Live webcam images for visibility, Data from Washington State Dept. of Ecology

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NOAA CBIBS free?

NOAA CBIBS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Methow Air free?

Methow Air is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, NOAA CBIBS or Methow Air?

NOAA CBIBS is rated higher. NOAA CBIBS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Methow Air averages 3.4 from 9 ratings.

### Do NOAA CBIBS or Methow Air have ads?

Neither NOAA CBIBS nor Methow Air shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NOAA CBIBS or Methow Air?

NOAA CBIBS ships an update every 9 months, and Methow Air every 39 months. Most recently, NOAA CBIBS was updated on October 23, 2026 and Methow Air on October 24, 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.*