# Winter OPS vs VAAC

The clearest difference is monetization model: VAAC at free against Winter OPS's free with in-app purchases. VAAC also leads on iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.0). Winter OPS's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 11 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Winter OPS sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year and VAAC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Winter OPS ships an update every 4 months, VAAC every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Winter OPS | VAAC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 65 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Avimont GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/488879220) | [Didier Delhaisse](https://appshunter.io/developer/1149960975) |

## What reviewers say

### Winter OPS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/winter-ops/id488881673)

This application assists with de-icing and anti-icing procedures by providing holdover time calculations based on official guidelines. It also decodes SNOWTAMs and offers customizable alerts for approaching expiry times, aiding aviation operations in winter conditions.

**Highlights:** Holdover Time (HOT) calculations, SNOWTAM decoding, Customizable expiry time alerts, Qualified fluid information, Weather definitions, Dark mode support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 year generic Fluids (FAA) | $8.99 | per year |
| 1 year generic Fluids (EASA) | $8.99 | per year |
| 1 year generic Fluids (TC) | $8.99 | per year |
| 1 year all Fluids (FAA) | $14.99 | per year |
| 1 year all Fluids (EASA) | $14.99 | per year |
| 1 year all Fluids (TC) | $14.99 | per year |
| Decoder Enabling | $1.99 | one-time |


### VAAC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vaac/id1149960976)

Receive alerts from Volcanic Ash Aviation Centres globally. Select your areas of interest to view the latest volcanic ash advisories in text or graphic formats. This app provides information on demand without intrusive notifications.

**Highlights:** Global volcanic ash advisories, Selectable aviation centres, ASHTAM and graphic formats, On-demand information, No intrusive notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Winter OPS free?

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

### Is VAAC free?

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

### Do Winter OPS or VAAC have ads?

Neither Winter OPS nor VAAC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Winter OPS or VAAC?

Winter OPS ships an update every 4 months, and VAAC every 11 months. Most recently, Winter OPS was updated on October 8, 2026 and VAAC on October 2, 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.*