# FEMA vs CoastWarn

The clearest difference is rating: CoastWarn at 5.0 against FEMA's 3.7. CoastWarn also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). FEMA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (1K vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CoastWarn sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FEMA asks for nothing beyond the download.

CoastWarn 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, CoastWarn every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FEMA | CoastWarn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/coastwarn/id6798089542/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 69.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#35** | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/474807609) | [Ryan Dean](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850630498) |

## What reviewers say

### FEMA

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

**Currently charting:** #35 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


### CoastWarn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastwarn/id6798089542)

Receive timely alerts for coastal flooding based on your custom water-level thresholds. Monitor NOAA data, get tide charts, and stay informed about potential flood events affecting your property or boat.

**Highlights:** Customizable flood alert thresholds, NOAA water-level monitoring, Tide charts and predictions, Flood expected notifications, Alert history, Station map search

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CoastWarn Lifetime Unlock | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FEMA free?

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

### Is CoastWarn free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FEMA or CoastWarn?

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

### Do FEMA or CoastWarn have ads?

Neither FEMA nor CoastWarn shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FEMA or CoastWarn?

FEMA ships an update every 2 months, and CoastWarn every 6 days. Most recently, FEMA was updated on October 13, 2026 and CoastWarn on October 3, 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.*