Comparison

Avalanche Forecasts vs Alpinecast

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

Head to head
About

Avalanche Forecasts

Access real-time avalanche danger levels across North America with this app. View color-coded danger levels on a map for your chosen timeframe and explore detailed forecasts from over 20 forecasting centers. Stay informed about conditions wherever your adventures take you.

Highlights
  • Real-time avalanche danger levels
  • Map view with color-coded danger levels
  • Selectable timeframes (Today, Tomorrow, 2 Days Out)
  • Detailed forecasts from over 20 centers
  • Support for NWAC, CAIC, UAC, and more
Features
Read full description

Get real-time updates on avalanche danger levels with Avalanche Forecasts. Our app makes it easy to see current danger levels at-a-glance for every forecast center in North America. Simply select your desired timeframe (Today/Tomorrow/2 Days Out) and view color-coded danger levels on the map. Click on any region to view the detailed avalanche forecast from the source forecasting center. With support for forecasts from over 20 centers, including NWAC (Northwest US), CAIC (Colorado), UAC (Utah), SAC (Central Sierras), ESAC (Eastern Sierras), MSAC (Mount Shasta), BAC (Bridgeport, CA), BTAC (Jackson Hole), GNFAC (Bozeman), WCMAC (Missoula), FAC (Kalispell/Whitefish), SNFAC (Sun Valley), IPAC (Idaho Panhandle), PAC (McCall), MWAC (Mount Washington), KPAC (Flagstaff), TAC (Taos), WAC (NE Oregon), CNFAIC (Chugach), JAC (Juneau), AAC (Anchorage), HAIC (Haines), VAC (Valdez), Cordova, HPAC (Hatcher Pass), Avalanche Canada, Parks Canada, WhistlerBlackcomb, VIAC (Vancouver Island), and Avalanche Quebec (Chic Chocs) forecasting centers, you can stay informed no matter where you are. For feature suggestions, bug reports, or other feedback, please contact us at project-development@sierraavalanchecenter.org.

About

Alpinecast

Features
Read full description

Alpinecast gives you everything you need to plan your next day in the mountains. Built by a backcountry skier in Golden, BC, it delivers hyper-accurate snow forecasts, live webcams, and real-time weather station data — all in one beautiful app. SNOW FORECASTS See 24h, 48h, and 72h snowfall accumulations at a glance. Check the 10-day daily forecast with temperature ranges, and review the last 10 days of snowfall history to track the season's progression. IN-DEPTH HOURLY DETAIL Tap into hour-by-hour breakdowns including apparent temperature, humidity, cloud cover at low, mid, and high levels, UV index, visibility, surface pressure, CAPE, solar radiation, freezing level, and snow depth. COMPARE 8 WEATHER MODELS Not all models agree. Compare forecasts side by side from GEM Seamless, HRDPS 2.5km, HRDPS West 1km, RDPS 10km, GDPS 15km, ICON, GFS, and ECMWF. The app automatically selects the best model for each location based on geography. 154 AVALANCHE CANADA WEATHER STATIONS Access real-time snow readings and 24-hour totals from stations operated by Parks Canada, BC Ministry of Transportation, Avalanche Canada, Kananaskis Country, Avalanche Québec, and Yukon Avalanche. Perfect for tracking fresh powder before you head out. LIVE MOUNTAIN WEBCAMS Browse nearby webcams with image and video streams, including YouTube live feeds. Zoom, swipe, and share your favorite mountain views. INTERACTIVE 3D TERRAIN MAP Explore mountains on a stunning 3D map with realistic elevation. Tap anywhere on the map to get a forecast for that exact spot. Toggle between satellite and standard views with cinematic camera animations. SAVE YOUR FAVORITES Search for any mountain, resort, or location worldwide. Save unlimited favorites and sort them by snowfall, elevation, or distance from you. HOME SCREEN WIDGETS Stay informed without opening the app. Four widgets keep your favorite forecasts, webcams, and weather station data right on your home screen. SHARE FORECASTS Generate beautiful shareable forecast charts and send them to your crew. Deep link support means tapping a shared link opens directly to the right location in the app. Whether you're planning a resort day, a backcountry tour, or a summer summit, Alpinecast is your go-to mountain weather companion.

Screenshots

Avalanche Forecasts4 screens
Alpinecast4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Alpinecast at every 3 days against Avalanche Forecasts's every 8 months. Avalanche Forecasts's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Avalanche Forecasts ships an update every 8 months, Alpinecast every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Avalanche Forecasts versus Alpinecast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAvalanche ForecastsAlpinecast
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (403 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings403 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB7 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperSierra Avalanche CenterGeorge Leonardo

Bugs and requests

Avalanche Forecasts

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes at startup
  • Color coding displays as gray for entire regions
  • Offline cache not functioning for NWAC zones
  • Mt Hood zone not populating data
  • Clicking on regions shows all state forecasts instead of specific region
Show 7 more
  • 404 errors when clicking on certain zones
  • Event map photos not displaying or appearing extremely small
  • Requires phone to be turned sideways to view properly
  • Clicking zone options produces no response
  • Detailed info screens cannot be scrolled
  • App formatting suddenly messes up and jumps around
  • App hangs and becomes unresponsive

Requested features

10 requests
  • iPad Pro screen size optimization
  • Trip planning tools
  • Slope evaluation features
  • Checklists for backcountry planning
  • Inclinometer tool
Show 5 more
  • Restore weather stations and report pins from old version
  • Smaller scale region selection
  • Support for additional avalanche centers (e.g., CBAC for Crested Butte)
  • Event map photo viewing improvements
  • Landscape mode support

Alpinecast

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Avalanche Forecasts

No in-app purchases

None

Alpinecast

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Avalanche Forecasts free?
Avalanche Forecasts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Alpinecast free?
Alpinecast is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Avalanche Forecasts or Alpinecast have ads?
Neither Avalanche Forecasts nor Alpinecast shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Avalanche Forecasts or Alpinecast?
Avalanche Forecasts ships an update every 8 months, and Alpinecast every 3 days. Most recently, Avalanche Forecasts was updated on October 9, 2026 and Alpinecast on September 30, 2026.

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