# NOAA CBIBS vs Tide Buoy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tide Buoy at 100% against NOAA CBIBS's 46%. Tide Buoy also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (weekly vs every 9 months). NOAA CBIBS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tide Buoy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. NOAA CBIBS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tide Buoy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of NOAA CBIBS's written reviews are positive against 100% of Tide Buoy's.

NOAA CBIBS ships an update every 9 months, Tide Buoy weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NOAA CBIBS | Tide Buoy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noaa-cbibs/id439920948/reviews) | **[5.0 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-buoy/id6760411286/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chesapeake Conservancy](https://appshunter.io/developer/439920951) | [WILLIAM BRADFORD BOOTH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884330109) |

## 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


### Tide Buoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-buoy/id6760411286)

Quickly access tide charts, surf conditions, and marine weather for your current location. Designed for surfers, anglers, and boaters, it provides clear visual data for coastal activities.

**Highlights:** Clear tide charts, Nearby tide station data, Surf and marine conditions, Save favorite spots, Visual tide curve, Coastal water data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tide Buoy Premium (Yearly) | $2.99 | per year |
| Tide Buoy Support Tip $1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tide Buoy Support Tip $5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tide Buoy Support Tip $10 | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NOAA CBIBS free?

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

### Is Tide Buoy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NOAA CBIBS or Tide Buoy?

Tide Buoy is rated higher. NOAA CBIBS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Tide Buoy averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.

### Do NOAA CBIBS or Tide Buoy have ads?

Tide Buoy shows ads; NOAA CBIBS does not.

### Which is updated more often, NOAA CBIBS or Tide Buoy?

NOAA CBIBS ships an update every 9 months, and Tide Buoy weekly. Most recently, NOAA CBIBS was updated on October 23, 2026 and Tide Buoy 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.*