FEMA vs Disaster Watch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FEMA
This app provides essential tools and information for disaster preparedness, safety, and recovery. Receive real-time alerts, access guidance on emergency plans and kits, and find information on disaster assistance.
- Real-time weather and emergency alerts
- Disaster preparedness guidance
- Actionable safety advice
- Disaster recovery assistance information
- Location-based alerts
- Accessibility features
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The official FEMA mobile app provides essential tools and information to help you prepare for, stay safe during, and recover from disasters. Empower yourself and your loved ones with critical resources at your fingertips. Key Features: - Timely and Relevant Alerts: Receive real-time weather and emergency alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) and Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), tailored to your specified locations (up to five), utilizing zip code precision. Stay informed about potential hazards affecting the areas you care about. - Comprehensive Preparedness Guidance: Access clear, concise information on how to prepare for various disasters. Learn how to develop a family emergency communication plan and build an effective emergency kit. - Actionable Safety Advice: Understand immediate steps to take to protect yourself and your family during different types of emergencies. - Disaster Recovery Assistance: Find answers to frequently asked questions about the disaster assistance process and locate FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers nearby. - Accessibility Focused: Designed with accessibility in mind, the app is compatible with screen reader technology and adheres to federal accessibility standards. Be proactive in ensuing your safety and resilience. Download the official FEMA App today to access vital information and resources when you need them most. It’s a free and essential tool for every individual and family. If you have any questions, comments or ideas, we’d love to hear them. Contact us at fema-app@fema.dhs.gov. Important: Tornado alerts are a moving target using polygon tracking for accuracy. Real-time tornado alerts based on your current location are not currently offered in the FEMA app.
Disaster Watch
Receive timely alerts for weather, earthquakes, and tsunamis directly from Maldivian authorities. This application is designed to keep you informed and safe.
- Weather alerts
- Earthquake alerts
- Tsunami alerts
- Official alerts from Maldivian authorities
- Safety information
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Stay safe by keeping updated on weather, earthquake and tusnami alerts issued by Maldivian authorities. Application made for National Disaster Management Center of the Maldives
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Disaster Watch at 5.0 against FEMA's 3.7. Disaster Watch also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). FEMA's advantage is ratings volume (1K vs 1) and chart position (#49 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Disaster Watch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FEMA has 1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
FEMA ships an update every 2 months, Disaster Watch every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and August 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FEMA | Disaster Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (1K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 69.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #49 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) | Mohamed Maail |
Customer experience
FEMA
Disaster Watch
Bugs and requests
FEMA
Reported bugs
4 issues- Alerts not showing up in the app
- Locations being repeatedly deleted
- Inability to add or update locations
- Notification badge not clearing properly
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Customizable notification settings
- Ability to view past/archived alerts
- Integration with other weather/emergency apps
- Improved mapping and location services
Disaster Watch
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
FEMA
No in-app purchases
Disaster Watch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FEMA free?
Is Disaster Watch free?
Which has better reviews, FEMA or Disaster Watch?
Do FEMA or Disaster Watch have ads?
Which is updated more often, FEMA or Disaster Watch?
Other comparisons
