Comparison

Pacific Watch vs RipCurrent

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

Head to head
About

Pacific Watch

This app provides comprehensive situational awareness for Hawaii, aggregating over 50 official data sources. It offers real-time weather, surf conditions, emergency alerts, and infrastructure updates for residents and visitors.

Highlights
  • Weather and forecast data
  • Surf and ocean conditions
  • Real-time emergency alerts
  • Volcano and earthquake tracking
  • Power outage and traffic maps
  • Emergency preparedness guides
Features
Read full description

Pacific Watch is Hawaii's all-in-one situational awareness app. Built specifically for Hawaii residents and visitors, it aggregates 50+ official data sources into one beautifully simple dashboard so you always know what's happening across the islands. FEATURES Weather & Forecast • Current conditions from local weather stations • Hourly and 7-day forecasts from the National Weather Service • Rainfall, wind, humidity, and UV index • Live weather cameras at beaches, mountains, and city views Surf & Ocean • Surf forecasts by island and shore • Tide predictions from NOAA • Buoy observations and wave heights • High surf advisories and warnings Emergency Alerts • Real-time push notifications for tsunami warnings, hurricane alerts, flood watches, and severe weather • NWS alerts automatically filtered for your island • Customize which alerts you want to receive • Optional home address for personalized flood zone alerts Volcanoes & Earthquakes • Live volcano cameras from USGS • Kilauea eruption tracking • Recent earthquakes with magnitude and location • Tsunami zone maps Infrastructure • Hawaiian Electric and KIUC power outage maps • Live traffic cameras on major highways • Water quality and beach advisories • Air quality (AQI) and vog monitoring Emergency Preparedness • 14-day emergency supply checklist • Evacuation shelter locations • Flood hazard zones • Hurricane preparedness guides • Multi-language handbooks (English, Ilocano, Korean, Vietnamese, Cantonese) CUSTOMIZATION • Choose your island for location-specific alerts • Customize your dashboard with drag-and-drop cards • Light and dark themes • Adjustable font size for accessibility BUILT FOR HAWAII Pacific Watch is a free, independent app built by a local Hawaii developer. No ads. No data selling. Just the information you need to stay safe and informed across O'ahu, Maui, Hawai'i Island, Kaua'i, Moloka'i, and Lana'i. Data sources include: National Weather Service, USGS, NOAA, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Hawaiian Electric, KIUC, Hawaii DOT, AirNow, and more. Support the app: If Pacific Watch helps keep you and your ohana safe, consider supporting development at pacificwatch.app. Mahalo!

About

RipCurrent

Features
Read full description

Know before you go in. RipCurrent shows the official rip current risk for any US beach — plus the actual warning flags lifeguards are flying at 50+ beaches — in one clean, fast app. RIP CURRENT RISK, STRAIGHT FROM THE NWS • Today's official LOW / MODERATE / HIGH rip current risk for any US beach • A multi-day outlook so you can plan the whole trip • Live Rip Current Statements and Beach Hazards Statements as they're issued REAL BEACH FLAGS • The actual flag flying right now — green, yellow, red, double red, purple — at 50+ beaches that publish it (the Florida Panhandle, Gulf Coast, Miami Beach, Galveston, and more) • Reported by the lifeguard agencies themselves, with the report time ALERTS FOR YOUR BEACH • Watch a beach and get a notification when the NWS issues a Rip Current Statement or Beach Hazards Statement for it MADE FOR BEACH DAYS • A US map with every saved beach color-coded by today's risk • Add any beach by name — comes with favorites from Miami to Waikiki • Learn what the risk levels mean and what to do if you're ever caught in a rip Rip currents are the #1 killer at US surf beaches — about 100 people drown in them every year, and most victims never saw a warning. RipCurrent puts the official forecast and the real flags in your pocket. Data sources: rip current risk, outlooks, and alerts come from the NOAA / National Weather Service Surf Zone Forecasts and alert feeds, available at https://www.weather.gov — beach flag statuses come from the local lifeguard agencies that publish them (South Walton Fire District, Escambia County Public Safety, PCB Beach & Surf Patrol, Galveston Island Beach Patrol, Mote Marine's Beach Conditions Reporting System, and more). RipCurrent is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of NOAA, the National Weather Service, any government agency, or any lifeguard organization. Awareness only — not for emergency decisions. Conditions vary along a beach and change quickly. Always heed lifeguards and posted flags.

Screenshots

Pacific Watch4 screens
RipCurrent4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Pacific Watch at none against RipCurrent's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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

Pacific Watch ships an update every 3 weeks, RipCurrent every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Pacific Watch versus RipCurrent: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPacific WatchRipCurrent
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid DoQvyshift LLC

In-app purchases

None

Pacific Watch

No in-app purchases

None

RipCurrent

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pacific Watch free?
Pacific Watch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RipCurrent free?
RipCurrent is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pacific Watch or RipCurrent have ads?
RipCurrent shows ads; Pacific Watch does not.
Which is updated more often, Pacific Watch or RipCurrent?
Pacific Watch ships an update every 3 weeks, and RipCurrent every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pacific Watch was updated on October 24, 2026 and RipCurrent on October 24, 2026.

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