Comparison

Rainbird vs BackyardBuoys

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

Head to head
About

Rainbird

Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Real-time wave data access
  • Data visualizations
  • Community-managed buoys
  • Blue economy enhancement
  • Hazard protection
  • Mobile data access
Features
Read full description

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

Rainbird4 screens
BackyardBuoys4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

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

Rainbird ships an update every 2 weeks, BackyardBuoys fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Rainbird versus BackyardBuoys: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRainbirdBackyardBuoys
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRainbirdGEOBackyardBuoys

In-app purchases

None

Rainbird

No in-app purchases

None

BackyardBuoys

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Rainbird free?
Rainbird is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BackyardBuoys free?
BackyardBuoys is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Rainbird or BackyardBuoys have ads?
Neither Rainbird nor BackyardBuoys shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Rainbird or BackyardBuoys?
Rainbird ships an update every 2 weeks, and BackyardBuoys fortnightly. Most recently, Rainbird was updated on October 30, 2026 and BackyardBuoys on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons