EarthAlert vs TerraWatch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EarthAlert
Read full descriptionHide full description
See where nearby earthquakes happened, how large they were and when they occurred. EarthAlert brings USGS reports, distance filters and epicenter maps into one clear view. FOCUS ON YOUR AREA Choose a distance of 50–1,000 km and a minimum magnitude from M1.0 to M9.5. View approximate distances in kilometers or miles. Location access is required for nearby results; when a current location is unavailable, nearby results and notifications pause. LOOK BACK AT RECENT ACTIVITY Switch between the past 24 hours and 7 days. Open an earthquake to see its location, depth, local time and epicenter map. Follow the link to the USGS report, or share your experience through USGS “Did You Feel It?” KNOW HOW CURRENT THE DATA IS See when the app last checked for reports and when the USGS feed was updated. A failed refresh or outdated feed is shown clearly instead of being presented as a current safety status. OPTIONAL NOTIFICATIONS Enable background updates for recent earthquakes matching your filters. Initial setup and changes to your notification filters do not replay earlier earthquakes. Updates use your last checked location, and pause after 24 hours without a new location. IMPORTANT LIMITATIONS EarthAlert is an information viewer, not an earthquake early-warning or prediction service. Background checks are scheduled by your device; notifications may be delayed or missed. They do not work after force-quitting the app or restarting your device until you reopen it. Internet access, location permission, notification permission and Background App Refresh are required for background notifications. Data comes from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Reports may be revised and coverage varies by region. Magnitude does not describe the shaking intensity at your location. EarthAlert does not issue or determine tsunami warnings; relevant events link to NOAA's official tsunami information. Follow local authorities for emergency alerts and safety instructions. Free with advertising. The app interface is in English.
TerraWatch
Read full descriptionHide full description
TerraWatch is a real-time monitoring app designed for farmers and landowners. FIELD MANAGEMENT Mark your fields on the map and view NDVI vegetation analysis via satellite imagery. Get a dedicated weather forecast for each individual field. WILDFIRE ALERTS Track high-confidence active fire detections near you using NASA FIRMS satellite data. Receive instant notifications when a new fire is detected within your chosen radius. EARTHQUAKE ALERTS Monitor real-time M4.5+ seismic activity from the USGS database. Get notified immediately when ground movement is detected near your location. WEATHER FORECAST View precipitation probability, temperature, wind speed, and ET₀ evapotranspiration data for your exact location. Irrigation need and frost risk are calculated automatically. PRO FEATURES • 14-day field weather forecast • 250 km, 500 km and 1000 km notification radius • Satellite map layer for advanced terrain view Data sources: NASA FIRMS, USGS, Open-Meteo, Sentinel Hub
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EarthAlert at none against TerraWatch's 1. EarthAlert also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). TerraWatch's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price 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. TerraWatch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. EarthAlert asks for nothing beyond the download.
EarthAlert ships an update fortnightly, TerraWatch every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EarthAlert | TerraWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Takahiro Onishi | Tolga Ulutas |
In-app purchases
EarthAlert
No in-app purchases
TerraWatch
- TerraWatch Pro$2.99
Questions
Is EarthAlert free?
Is TerraWatch free?
Do EarthAlert or TerraWatch have ads?
Which is updated more often, EarthAlert or TerraWatch?
Other comparisons















