Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) vs FWAS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)
This application connects to specific Kestrel weather meters, allowing users to view and manage data from their devices. It supports older firmware versions for the Drop and 5000 series models.
- Connects to Drop devices
- Connects to 5000 series devices
- View device data
- Manage device data
- Legacy firmware support
Read full descriptionHide full description
Kestrel LiNK Legacy edition is compatible with Drop and 5000 series devices with the following firmware: K5 1.43 or earlier Drop 1.54 or earlier
FWAS
This app provides critical weather information and custom alerts for firefighters to anticipate dangerous fire behavior. It offers map-based access to fire-specific weather data, including RAWS, NWS forecasts, and radar, helping to prevent entrapments.
- Custom weather alerts
- RAWS/ASOS station data
- Fire-specific weather forecasts
- Satellite hotspot mapping
- Incident location and fire perimeters
- NWS watches, warnings, and advisories
- NEXRAD radar data
Read full descriptionHide full description
Many firefighters have been entrapped due to rapid changes in weather causing unexpected fire behavior. These weather events are often predictable using local weather measurements and forecasts, but on-the-ground firefighters have historically lacked access to this information. The Fire Weather Alert System provides this access. It monitors nearby weather observations and forecasts to warn firefighters of dangerous incoming weather and provides convenient map-based access to fire-specific weather information (RAWS, NWS zone fire weather forecasts, NEXRAD radar data, etc.). GET CUSTOM WEATHER ALERTS • Get custom weather alerts when wind speed, wind gust, relative humidity, air temperature, and precipitation exceed your set thresholds. • RAWS/ASOS stations and short-term forecasts (HRRR model) are monitored. • Designate the watch area for your fire. • Alerts broadcast using in-app messages, text, and/or email. VIEW RAWS DATA • Select weather stations from a map and view data in graph and tabular form. • Access RAWS, iRAWS, ASOS, and other station networks. VIEW SATELLITE HOTSPOTS • Display VIIRS and MODIS hotspots on the map. VIEW INCIDENT LOCATIONS AND FIRE PERIMETERS • View incident name, type, size, and most recent perimeter (including smaller IA fires). VIEW NWS WATCHES, WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES • See National Weather Service Active Alerts on the map and read the text. • Monitor Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Wind Advisories, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, etc. ACCESS ZONE FIRE WEATHER FORECASTS • Access and read your local fire weather forecast. • See fire weather zone names and boundaries on the map. MONITOR APPROACHING STORMS WITH NEXRAD RADAR • Display animated radar data on the map.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FWAS at 3.3 against Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)'s 2.2. Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)'s advantage is ratings volume (38 vs 10) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 10.0). On price, review sentiment, 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.
FWAS holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)'s written reviews are positive against 25% of FWAS's.
Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) ships an update every 2 months, FWAS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) | FWAS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.2 (38 ratings) | 3.3 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 23.1% of reviews | 25.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 10.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 200 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nielsen-Kellerman Co. | US Forest Service |
Customer experience
Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)
FWAS
In-app purchases
Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)
No in-app purchases
FWAS
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) free?
Is FWAS free?
Which has better reviews, Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) or FWAS?
Do Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) or FWAS have ads?
Which is updated more often, Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) or FWAS?
Other comparisons















