Comparison

Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) vs FWAS

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Connects to Drop devices
  • Connects to 5000 series devices
  • View device data
  • Manage device data
  • Legacy firmware support
Features
Read 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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read 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

Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)1 screens
FWAS2 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) versus FWAS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKestrel LiNK (Legacy)FWAS
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (38 ratings)3.3 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.1% of reviews25.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings38 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better10.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB200 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNielsen-Kellerman Co.US Forest Service

Customer experience

Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)

All ratings38 ratings
Positive21.1%
Neutral7.9%
Negative71.1%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive23.1%
Neutral20.5%
Negative56.4%

FWAS

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)

No in-app purchases

None

FWAS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) free?
Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FWAS free?
FWAS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) or FWAS?
FWAS is rated higher. Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) averages 2.2 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while FWAS averages 3.3 from 10 ratings.
Do Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) or FWAS have ads?
Neither Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) nor FWAS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) or FWAS?
Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) ships an update every 2 months, and FWAS every 4 months. Most recently, Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) was updated on October 26, 2026 and FWAS on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons