Rainbird vs BackyardBuoys
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rainbird
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Company identity, RainbirdGEO, represents the fusion of 'Rainbird', nature's rain messenger, and 'GEO', symbolizing both Earth and satellites. We specialize in analyzing cutting-edge Earth observation satellites to deliver accurate forecasts and facilitate risk information sharing across Pacific communities. Easy functions of 'Rainbird - Pacific' application: Advanced Satellite Rain Forecasting Stay ahead of Pacific weather patterns! ‘Rainbird - Pacific’ delivers location-specific rain forecasts using our world-class algorithm developed by RainbirdGEO, powered by high-quality data from Korean geostationary satellites. Plan your day confidently with advance notice of incoming rainfall. Community-Driven Warning System Take an active role in your community's safety by reporting weather events through the app. Share alerts for various conditions common in the Pacific region, including tropical storms, tsunamis, lightning, fire, heat waves, heavy rain, strong winds, water shortages, and flooding. Enhance your reports with photos and comments to keep your community informed. Local Alert Notifications Stay informed about weather events in your vicinity. Receive real-time notifications about weather conditions and community-reported incidents across the Pacific region, ensuring you're always prepared for sudden changes. Pacific Region Weather Updates Access comprehensive weather information for your location through the ‘Rainbird - Pacific’ app. Get current conditions and forecasts tailored to Pacific weather patterns. For more information about RainbirdGEO services and updates, please visit: Homepage: https://rainbirdgeo.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/rainbirdgeo Questions or suggestions about our service? Contact us at support@rainbirdgeo.com [Required permissions] Location Access Notifications
BackyardBuoys
This application provides coastal communities with easy mobile access to near real-time wave data and visualizations. It leverages scalable marine technology for community-managed ocean buoys, enhancing blue economy and hazard protection.
- Real-time wave data access
- Data visualizations
- Community-managed buoys
- Blue economy enhancement
- Hazard protection
- Mobile data access
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The Backyard Buoys project enables coastal communities to gather and use wave data, enhancing their blue economy and hazard protection. Leveraging low-cost and scalable marine technology, Backyard Buoys offers a system for community-managed ocean buoys and web apps that simplify data access. The Backyard Buoys app provides easy, mobile access to near real-time wave data and visualizations.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Rainbird at 13.0 against BackyardBuoys's 17.0. On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Rainbird ships an update every 2 weeks, BackyardBuoys fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rainbird | BackyardBuoys |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 5 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RainbirdGEO | BackyardBuoys |
In-app purchases
Rainbird
No in-app purchases
BackyardBuoys
No in-app purchases









