Comparison

Avalanche Lab vs PIEPS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Avalanche Lab

Record snow and avalanche data in the field using your iPhone. Measure slope angles, record crown profiles, and map slides with GPS. Share your findings instantly with colleagues and the wider community.

Highlights
  • Snow pit diagram creation
  • GPS slide mapping
  • Slope angle measurement
  • Crown profile recording
  • Offline field use
  • Data export (PDF, KML, CAAML)
  • Import CAAML profiles
Features
Read full description

Imagine... You see an avalanche, you ski over to the crown and pull out your iPhone. You snap a photo, measure the slope angle and aspect, then record a crown profile, all on your phone. As you ski down the path, you use your phone as GPS to map the slide. When you get to the toe of the slide you send a diagram of the crown and a map of the slide to your colleagues back at the office, then you post it to the Avalanche Lab network to alert everyone else. With Avalanche Lab you can do all that and more. Avalanche Lab was developed out of a desire to easily enter snow and avalanche data in the field, and then electronically share that data. Avalanche Lab uses all those fancy features on your iPhone to make it as easy as possible. It has all the features an avalanche professional would want, and is simple enough to be used by backcountry skiers and even snowboarders. Avalanche Lab includes clinometer, GPS, and compass support so you can accurately measure and mark your field sites. Avalanche Lab is designed to be used in the field, there is no need for a wifi or cell signal. Most inputs are multiple choice to eliminate the need for typing, and the buttons are big for use with cold fingers. Avalanche Lab produces professional quality snow pit diagrams in the standard format, and in a compact format for display on mobile devices, and saves diagrams as an image or PDF file. Other export formats include KML maps of avalanches, CAAML xml, and SnowPilot format. Avalanche Lab can also import CAAML v5 snow profiles so you can load data from other software for viewing in the field. https://avalanchelab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Terms-of-Use.pdf

About

PIEPS

Configure, check, and update your PIEPS or Black Diamond avalanche transceiver. Train your rescue skills with your phone as a remote control and register your device for additional services.

Highlights
  • Device configuration
  • Functionality check
  • Firmware updates
  • Rescue skills training
  • Remote control functionality
  • Device registration
Features
Read full description

- Configure your PIEPS or Black Diamond device according to your preferences. - Check the functionality of your PIEPS or Black Diamond device - Update your PIEPS or Black Diamond device to the latest firmware. - Train your emergency rescue skills. Use your phone as a remote control. - Register your PIEPS or Black Diamond device to get additional services

Screenshots

Avalanche Lab4 screens
PIEPS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PIEPS at 4.9 against Avalanche Lab's 4.3. PIEPS also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (1K vs 15). Avalanche Lab's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 63%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Avalanche Lab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. PIEPS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PIEPS holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIEPS has 1K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of Avalanche Lab's written reviews are positive against 63% of PIEPS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Avalanche Lab ships an update every 2 months, PIEPS monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Avalanche Lab versus PIEPS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAvalanche LabPIEPS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (15 ratings)4.9 (1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews — better63.0% of reviews
Number of ratings151K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRENAISSANCE RECREATION LLCPieps GmbH

Customer experience

Avalanche Lab

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

PIEPS

All ratings1,016 ratings
Positive97.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive63.0%
Neutral7.4%
Negative29.6%

Bugs and requests

Avalanche Lab

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

PIEPS

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App home screen going blank
  • Incompatibility with certain beacon models

Requested features

2 requests
  • Support for more languages (e.g. Russian, Japanese)
  • Improved security for app login/registration

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Avalanche Lab

Subscriptions2
  • Observation PRO Subscription$9.991 Year
  • Avalanche Lab PRO$9.991 Year
None

PIEPS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Avalanche Lab free?
Avalanche Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PIEPS free?
PIEPS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Avalanche Lab or PIEPS?
PIEPS is rated higher. Avalanche Lab averages 4.3 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while PIEPS averages 4.9 from 1K ratings.
Do Avalanche Lab or PIEPS have ads?
Neither Avalanche Lab nor PIEPS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Avalanche Lab or PIEPS?
Avalanche Lab ships an update every 2 months, and PIEPS monthly. Most recently, Avalanche Lab was updated on October 12, 2026 and PIEPS on October 4, 2026.

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