# EPA AIRNow vs AirQualityMeter

The clearest difference is ads: EPA AIRNow at none against AirQualityMeter's shown. EPA AIRNow also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 6 months) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). AirQualityMeter's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 27%). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

EPA AIRNow ships an update every 5 weeks, AirQualityMeter every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EPA AIRNow | AirQualityMeter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.2 (578 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epa-airnow/id467653238/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **578** | — |
| Positive reviews | 26.7% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | **#175** | — |
| Size | 40 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/466052690) | [Yuta Endo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1621719139) |

## What reviewers say

### EPA AIRNow

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

**Currently charting:** #175 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


### AirQualityMeter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airqualitymeter/id1660451275)

This app provides real-time air quality measurements and forecasts up to 24 hours in advance. It helps users manage their physical condition and prepare for allergies by notifying them of pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10. Location services enable automatic weather data acquisition for your current area.

**Highlights:** Real-time air pollutant notifications (PM2.5, PM10), 24-hour air pollution level forecast, Global coverage, Automatic location-based weather data, Allergy countermeasure information

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EPA AIRNow free?

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

### Is AirQualityMeter free?

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

### Do EPA AIRNow or AirQualityMeter have ads?

AirQualityMeter shows ads; EPA AIRNow does not.

### Which is updated more often, EPA AIRNow or AirQualityMeter?

EPA AIRNow ships an update every 5 weeks, and AirQualityMeter every 6 months. Most recently, EPA AIRNow was updated on October 29, 2026 and AirQualityMeter on October 27, 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.*