MDSS vs cyclonePORT
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MDSS
This app provides mobile access to winter maintenance decision support for transportation agencies. It offers route-specific recommendations, weather and pavement forecasts, and observational data. Access is restricted to preauthorized users.
- Route-specific winter maintenance recommendations
- Weather and pavement forecasts
- FAA/NWS and RWIS observations
- Weather maps
- Camera images
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The MDSS app is a mobile application for the Pooled Fund Study Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS). It is designed to provide mobile access to information that supports transportation winter maintenance decision making, including route-specific winter maintenance recommendations, weather and pavement forecasts, and observational data to include FAA/NWS and RWIS observations, weather maps, and camera images. Account access is required. Organizations can subscribe to the MDSS service through DTN to enable access for their personnel. Contact DTN for subscription information.
cyclonePORT
This application provides advanced weather data for professionals and enthusiasts. It offers high-resolution radar, lightning detection, storm reports, and various forecast models. Users can customize maps, track storms, and share animations.
- High-resolution radar and satellite data
- Lightning detection and animation
- 24-hour storm reports
- Model data with contours (HRRR, NAM, GFS, ECMWF)
- Severe weather alerts with sound
- Customizable maps and locations
- Share radar animations as GIF/video
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Welcome to cyclonePORT Enterprise for all cyclonePORT clients, institutions, and organizations. This app requires a login for all users. For more information, please reach out to www.cyclonePORT.com or info@cyclonePORT.com cyclonePORT Enterprise (with Gamma login) Features: -High-Resolution Single Site Radar Data -30 Frame Animations for Radar -7 Day Radar History with 30 frames -Lightning Detection/Animation -24 Hour Storm Reports -SPC Convective Outlooks, Watches, & Mesoscale Discussions -NHC Tropical Weather Outlooks, Discussions, & Active Tropical Cyclone Tracking -WPC Excessive Rainfall Outlooks -Fire Weather Outlooks & Weekly Drought Monitor -WPC Winter Weather Forecasts & Winter Storm Severity Index -METARS Data Layer -Real-Time NWS Storm-Based Warnings -Flash animation and in-app sound alerts for Severe, Tropical, and Winter Alerts -WPC Surface Analysis -Buoy Data & Tidal Forecast Charts -NEXRAD Hail History -Spotter Network Locations -Map Type Customization -Detailed City & Road Network -15 Custom Locations with a RadarOmega Account -Drawing, Data Viewer, and Distance Tools -Share GIF and Videos of Radar Animations -Day/Night Layer -Access to cyclonePORT network -Hi-Resolution Satellite Data -Lightning Detection/Animation, METARS, & GLM for Mesoscale & Storm-Based Satellite Sectors -National Digital Forecast Database -Storm Track Drawing Tool -Access to Project MesoVort -75 Frame Animations for Radar/Satellite -Dual View for Radar with 30 Frames -Smoothing for Radar/Satellite -30 Day Radar History with 75 Frames -6 Month Storm Report Archive -3D Radar/Satellite -Upload 3 Custom Color Tables -30 Custom Locations with Icon Upload -2 Custom Location Lists cyclonePORT Enterprise (with Beta login) *Everything in Gamma PLUS* -MRMS Data -150 Frame Animations for Radar/Satellite/MRMS -Dual View for Radar/Satellite with 50 Frames -Smoothing for MRMS -90 Day Radar History with 150 Frames -5 Year Storm Report Archive -3D MRMS -Upload 8 Custom Color Tables -75 Custom Locations with Icon Upload -5 Custom Location Lists cyclonePORT Enterprise (with Alpha login) *Everything in Beta PLUS* -Model Data with Contours for HRRR, NAM3KM, NAM12KM, RAP, GFS, ECMWF, HWRF, & HMON -250 Frame Animations for Radar/Satellite/MRMS -Dual View for Radar/Satellite with 100 Frames -Quad View for Radar/Satellite on iPad and Desktop with 50 Frames -Smoothing for Models -90 Day Radar History with 250 Frames -10 Year Storm Report Archive -3D Models -Upload 30 Custom Color Tables -150 Custom Locations with Icon Upload -10 Custom Location Lists -1 site location monitoring (live monitor only, no SMS) See our Terms of Service below: https://www.cyclonePORT.com/terms.php
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MDSS at 2.6 against cyclonePORT's 2.1. MDSS also leads on review sentiment (11% vs 0%). cyclonePORT's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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.
MDSS holds the better App Store score, 2.6 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of MDSS's written reviews are positive against 0% of cyclonePORT's.
MDSS ships an update every 6 weeks, cyclonePORT every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MDSS | cyclonePORT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (20 ratings) — better | 2.1 (16 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 20 — better | 16 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 80 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DTN, LLC | SDS Weather LLC |
Customer experience
MDSS
cyclonePORT
In-app purchases
MDSS
No in-app purchases
cyclonePORT
No in-app purchases
