# FEMA vs Disaster Watch

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 (#63 vs unranked). 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.

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 September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FEMA | Disaster Watch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fema/id474807486/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/disaster-watch/id1128050009/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 69.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#63** | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/474807609) | [Mohamed Maail](https://appshunter.io/developer/578867563) |

## What reviewers say

### FEMA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fema/id474807486)

**Currently charting:** #63 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Real-time weather and emergency alerts, Disaster preparedness guidance, Actionable safety advice, Disaster recovery assistance information, Location-based alerts, Accessibility features

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate and timely weather alerts
- 👍 Helpful preparedness information
- 🚨 Essential for emergency situations
- ⚠️ Valuable real-time updates
- 🗺️ Ability to monitor multiple locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive and excessive notifications
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/accessing alerts
- 🐛 Bugs causing app crashes or issues
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive interface
- 🗺️ Limited location tracking capabilities

**Reported bugs**

- Alerts not showing up in the app
- Locations being repeatedly deleted
- Inability to add or update locations
- Notification badge not clearing properly

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/disaster-watch/id1128050009)

Receive timely alerts for weather, earthquakes, and tsunamis directly from Maldivian authorities. This application is designed to keep you informed and safe.

**Highlights:** Weather alerts, Earthquake alerts, Tsunami alerts, Official alerts from Maldivian authorities, Safety information

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FEMA free?

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

### Is Disaster Watch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FEMA or Disaster Watch?

Disaster Watch is rated higher. FEMA averages 3.7 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Disaster Watch averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do FEMA or Disaster Watch have ads?

Neither FEMA nor Disaster Watch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FEMA or Disaster Watch?

FEMA ships an update every 2 months, and Disaster Watch every 2 days. Most recently, FEMA was updated on October 2, 2026 and Disaster Watch on September 21, 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.*