# Avalanche Lab vs rakkup

The clearest difference is rating: Avalanche Lab at 4.3 against rakkup's 2.2. Avalanche Lab also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 54%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Avalanche Lab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and rakkup sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Avalanche Lab holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Avalanche Lab's written reviews are positive against 54% of rakkup's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Avalanche Lab | rakkup |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avalanche-lab/id477838698/reviews)** | [2.2 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rakkup/id519148082/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **25** |
| Positive reviews | **90.9% of reviews** | 53.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 23 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RENAISSANCE RECREATION LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/961533274) | [Outdoor Geeks, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/519148085) |

## What reviewers say

### Avalanche Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avalanche-lab/id477838698)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Observation PRO Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Avalanche Lab PRO | $9.99 | per year |


### rakkup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rakkup/id519148082)

Access a vast library of climbing and backcountry skiing guidebooks on your mobile device, even without an internet connection. Navigate trails to your destination with turn-by-turn directions and detailed maps. Explore climbs and descents with rich visuals and discover new routes.

**Highlights:** Offline guidebook access, Turn-by-turn trail navigation, GPS-enabled route finding, Map and list browsing, Search and filter capabilities, Color photos and topo drawings

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Elizabeth Furnace | $2.99 | one-time |
| Long Branch and Guide Walls | $3.99 | one-time |
| Reed's Creek | $4.99 | one-time |
| Exit 38 Rock Climbs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Staunton State Park Climbing | $9.99 | one-time |
| Silverton | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bridger Ridge | $9.99 | one-time |
| Powerlinez | $11.99 | one-time |
| Teton Pass Descents | $14.99 | one-time |
| Snoqualmie Pass | $14.99 | one-time |
| Index Town Walls | $15.99 | one-time |
| Red Rocks Climbs by SuperTopo | $19.99 | one-time |
| Mt. Erie | $19.99 | one-time |
| Potrero Chico | $19.99 | one-time |
| Backcountry Skiing California's Eastern Sierra | $19.99 | one-time |
| Vermont Tough Schist | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ GPS navigation to crags and trails
- 📸 High-quality photos with route overlays
- 🔍 Powerful filtering and search capabilities
- 📱 Offline functionality without internet
- ✍️ Curated content from professional authors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- 🧭 Unintuitive and confusing navigation UI
- 🔋 Requires background location services
- 📉 Inconsistent guidebook quality by author
- ❌ Missing major climbing areas and routes

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on login
- App freezes when opening routes
- Crashes every 30 seconds to few minutes
- Splash screen appears repeatedly despite cached data
- Collapse/expand toggles stop working

**Requested features**

- Simplified and more intuitive UI redesign
- Gear and rack information for routes
- Pitch length specifications
- User ratings and comments system
- Personalization settings (filter preferences)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Avalanche Lab free?

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

### Is rakkup free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Avalanche Lab or rakkup?

Avalanche Lab is rated higher. Avalanche Lab averages 4.3 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while rakkup averages 2.2 from 25 ratings.

### Do Avalanche Lab or rakkup have ads?

Neither Avalanche Lab nor rakkup shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Avalanche Lab or rakkup?

Avalanche Lab ships an update every 2 months, and rakkup every 2 months. Most recently, Avalanche Lab was updated on October 12, 2026 and rakkup on October 22, 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.*