# Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) vs FWAS

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kestrel LiNK (Legacy) | FWAS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kestrel-link-legacy/id698732837/reviews) | **[3.3 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fwasfire-weather-alert-system/id6445856411/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **38** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 23.1% of reviews | **25.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 20 MB | 200 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 10.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nielsen-Kellerman Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/698732840) | [US Forest Service](https://appshunter.io/developer/949583790) |

## What reviewers say

### Kestrel LiNK (Legacy)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kestrel-link-legacy/id698732837)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### FWAS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fwasfire-weather-alert-system/id6445856411)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*