# EPA AIRNow vs Air Quality Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Air Quality Reader at 3.8 against EPA AIRNow's 3.2. Air Quality Reader also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (37% vs 27%). EPA AIRNow's advantage is chart position (#101 vs unranked) and ratings volume (579 vs 147). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Air Quality Reader holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 579 and 147 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of EPA AIRNow's written reviews are positive against 37% of Air Quality Reader's.

EPA AIRNow ships an update every 5 weeks, Air Quality Reader every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EPA AIRNow | Air Quality Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (579 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epa-airnow/id467653238/reviews) | **[3.8 (147 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air-quality-reader/id1535362123/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **579** | 147 |
| Positive reviews | 26.7% of reviews | **36.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#101** | — |
| Size | 40 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/466052690) | [Bret Taylor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1039747787) |

## What reviewers say

### EPA AIRNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epa-airnow/id467653238)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Access real-time and forecasted air quality data for your local area and any other location. Plan your day and protect your health by understanding current air conditions.

**Highlights:** Current air quality information, Forecasted air quality, Local AQI display, Multiple area storage, Health protection planning

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful for tracking air quality
- 👍 Accurate information
- 👍 Useful for asthmatic users
- 👍 Assists with healthy living

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Not updating in real-time
- 🐛 Inconsistent data across screens
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Inaccurate readings
- 🐛 Incomplete coverage of locations

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when accessing details
- Locations not showing up
- Data not updating consistently
- Incompatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Add notification alerts for poor air quality
- Improve map functionality and coverage
- Allow customization of locations and settings
- Provide more detailed air quality data
- Increase update frequency


### Air Quality Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air-quality-reader/id1535362123)

View real-time air quality index (AQI) readings from a global network of sensors. Get instant health insights and monitor pollution levels directly on your home screen with customizable widgets.

**Highlights:** Real-time AQI readings, Global sensor network, Home screen widgets, Health effect information, Pollution monitoring

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective app
- 🗺️ Map widget available
- 💨 Real-time air quality data
- 💙 Great public service app
- ✨ Ad-free experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Data not updating
-  stale Data displayed
- ⚠️ Dangerously misleading data
- 📉 Sensors disappeared
- ❓ Data accuracy issues

**Reported bugs**

- App stopped updating air quality data
- Data feed stopped working
- Sensors not updating for months
- Indoor sensors not showing
- My unit is missing from map

**Requested features**

- Increase font size for visually impaired
- Add ability to toggle indoor sensors
- Add ability to filter indoor vs outdoor sensors
- Add pollen data
- Notification options for air quality drops


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EPA AIRNow free?

EPA AIRNow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Air Quality Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, EPA AIRNow or Air Quality Reader?

Air Quality Reader is rated higher. EPA AIRNow averages 3.2 out of 5 from 579 ratings, while Air Quality Reader averages 3.8 from 147 ratings.

### Do EPA AIRNow or Air Quality Reader have ads?

Neither EPA AIRNow nor Air Quality Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EPA AIRNow or Air Quality Reader?

EPA AIRNow ships an update every 5 weeks, and Air Quality Reader every 4 days. Most recently, EPA AIRNow was updated on October 23, 2026 and Air Quality Reader on October 24, 2026.

---

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