# Avalanche Forecasts vs Going Blue

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Avalanche Forecasts at none against Going Blue's 2. Avalanche Forecasts also leads on ratings volume (403 vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). Going Blue's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 8 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Going Blue sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Avalanche Forecasts asks for nothing beyond the download.

Going Blue holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Avalanche Forecasts has 403 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Avalanche Forecasts ships an update every 8 months, Going Blue every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Avalanche Forecasts | Going Blue |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (403 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avalanche-forecasts/id501231389/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/going-blue/id6798411927/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **403** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 75.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 37 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sierra Avalanche Center](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651253835) | [Lane Aasen](https://appshunter.io/developer/6798411929) |

## What reviewers say

### Avalanche Forecasts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avalanche-forecasts/id501231389)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy-to-use interface and navigation
- 🗺️ Consolidated map view of multiple avalanche regions
- ⚡ Quick access to critical avalanche forecasts
- 🆓 Free app with valuable safety information
- 📱 Simple and intuitive design for on-the-go access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🐛 Color coding not displaying correctly (especially Washington state)
- 🐛 Offline cache feature not working for certain regions
- 🐛 Regional data not populating even when connected to internet
- 🔄 App not updating forecasts from certain centers (NWAC)

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- iPad Pro screen size optimization
- Trip planning tools
- Slope evaluation features
- Checklists for backcountry planning
- Inclinometer tool


### Going Blue

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/going-blue/id6798411927)

This weather app provides detailed forecasts via satellite messengers, ideal for remote expeditions. It compresses extensive weather data into single messages, accessible through SMS, Garmin inReach, or iPhone satellite messaging.

**Highlights:** Satellite messenger compatibility, Custom data compression codec, SMS, Garmin inReach, iPhone messaging support, Hourly and 13-day forecasts, Multiple weather variables, Over 30 forecast models, Forecast comparison

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Going Blue Expedition (1 month) | $9.99 | per month |
| Going Blue Expedition (annual) | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Avalanche Forecasts free?

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

### Is Going Blue free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Avalanche Forecasts or Going Blue?

Going Blue is rated higher. Avalanche Forecasts averages 4.7 out of 5 from 403 ratings, while Going Blue averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Avalanche Forecasts or Going Blue have ads?

Neither Avalanche Forecasts nor Going Blue shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Avalanche Forecasts or Going Blue?

Avalanche Forecasts ships an update every 8 months, and Going Blue every 8 days. Most recently, Avalanche Forecasts was updated on November 1, 2026 and Going Blue on November 13, 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.*