Comparison

OpenSnow vs ridespot

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

Head to head
About

OpenSnow

Get the most accurate snow forecasts, detailed snow reports, and severe weather maps. Access 15-day forecasts, local expert insights, and offline 3D maps for snow depth, avalanche risk, and more. Track storms with advanced radar and AI-powered weather systems.

Highlights
  • 15-Day Snow Forecast
  • Local Expert Snow Reports
  • 3D & Offline Weather Maps
  • AI-Powered Weather System
  • Severe Weather Tracking
  • Mountain Webcams
  • Snow Depth & Avalanche Risk Maps
Features
Read full description

OpenSnow is your trusted source for the most accurate snow forecast, snow report, and severe weather maps. "Weather forecasting for the mountains takes extra focus, analysis, and precision, which is exactly what OpenSnow provides. The app is incredible, even for super weather nerds like myself." – Cody Townsend, Pro Skier 15-Day Snow Forecasts Finding the location that has the best conditions can feel overwhelming. With OpenSnow, deciding where to go is easy. View the latest 15-day snow forecast, snow report, conditions history, and mountain webcams for your favorite locations in just a few seconds. Local Daily Snow Experts Instead of spending hours sifting through weather data, get the inside scoop in just a few minutes. Our local experts write a new Daily Snow forecast each day in the winter for regions around the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Have one of our expert local forecasters guide you to the best conditions. 3D Weather + Snow Maps We make it easy to track incoming storms with super-res radar and global precipitation, radar, and snow forecast maps. You can also view 3D maps for snow depth, avalanche risk, slope angle, active fires, air quality, wildfire smoke, public and private land ownership, and more. Download high-resolution satellite maps to view offline. PEAKS + StormNet PEAKS is our mountain weather forecast model that is up to 50% more accurate in complex terrain. StormNet is our severe weather forecast model that produces real-time, high-resolution forecasts for lightning, hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Combined, PEAKS + StormNet provide a first-of-its-kind, fully operational multi-component weather forecast system. Daily Features • 15-Day Hourly Forecasts • Current + Forecast Radar • Precipitation Forecast Maps • Air Quality Forecasts • Wildfire Smoke Forecast Maps • 50,000+ Weather Stations • 3D + Offline Maps • Land Boundary + Private Ownership Maps • Recent Satellite Maps Snow + Ski Features • 15-Day Snow Forecast • Powder Quality Forecast • Snow Depth Map • Season Snowfall Map • Snow Forecast Alerts • Snow Forecast Maps • Offline Ski Resort Trail Maps • Snow Forecast + Report Widgets • Historical Snow Reports Severe Weather Features (US only) • Super-Res Radar • Lightning Risk • Tornado Risk • Hail Risk • Damaging Winds Risk • Severe Weather Alerts Free Features • My Location 15-Day Forecast • Snow Forecast 15-Day Summary • Historical Weather + Snow Reports • Snow Report Alerts • Avalanche Forecasts • Mountain Webcams • Active Fires Map • Air Quality Map • Slope Angle + Slope Aspect — Free Trial — New accounts automatically receive the full OpenSnow Premium experience, with no credit card or payment information required. If you choose not to purchase OpenSnow after the free trial is over, you will be automatically downgraded to a free account and not charged. — In-App Purchase — OpenSnow Base is an auto-renewable subscription, which will renew yearly at $49.99 USD. Payment will be charged to the user's Apple account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period and identify the cost of the renewal. If the auto-renewal fails due to a payment issue, you will still be able to access the paid content for 16 days while Apple attempts to collect payment. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Full terms and conditions can be found here: https://support.opensnow.com/legal/terms | https://support.opensnow.com/legal/privacy Sales through Apple will be governed by Apple’s refund policy. We value all of our customers and encourage you to provide feedback on your experience. Please get in touch with us by sending an email to hello@opensnow.com

About

ridespot

Discover the best wind and weather conditions for your watersports. Find thousands of global spots with live data, smart analysis, and customizable filters. Perfect for all skill levels, from beginners to pros.

Highlights
  • Global spot map with 3000+ locations
  • Live weather and precise wind forecasts
  • AI-powered smart wind analysis
  • Customizable spot filters
  • Offline mode for spot access
  • Detailed spot information and local services
Features
Read full description

ridespot - Your Spot Compass for Perfect Sessions! Stop guessing where the wind is good! ridespot is your ultimate kiting app that shows you where the wind blows best and conditions are perfect. Whether you're a beginner looking for your first spot or a pro wanting to discover hidden gems – ridespot gets you where the action is! What makes ridespot special? • Global Spot Map: Discover 3000 spots worldwide – from your home waters to exotic destinations • Live Weather Data: ridespot deliver precise wind forecasts and current conditions • Smart Wind Analysis: Our AI considers topography and venturi effects for even more accurate wind predictions • Perfect Filters: Find spots by difficulty, distance, surface type and much more • Dark Mode: Keep track even at sunset • Offline Mode: Your favorite spots available even without internet Perfect for Everybody: - Beginners find safe flat water spots with standing depth - Intermediate riders discover new challenges - Pros track the best conditions for their sessions Wind, Weather, Waves – everything at a glance: Forget hours of checking different weather apps! ridespot shows you instantly: - Wind speed and direction - Gusts and wind consistency - Temperature and precipitation - 7-day forecast - Best times for your session More than just a spot finder: - Detailed spot info with access, parking and facilities - Distance calculation to your location - Difficulty levels and surface information - Local services and surf schools nearby Download ridespot now and turn every wind forecast into your next adventure!

Screenshots

OpenSnow4 screens
ridespot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: OpenSnow at Free against ridespot's $0.99. OpenSnow also leads on chart position (#21 vs unranked). ridespot's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

OpenSnow is free to download; ridespot costs $0.99 up front. OpenSnow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. ridespot asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, ridespot every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
OpenSnow versus ridespot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenSnowridespot
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.7 (9.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9.1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#21 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCloudnine Weather, Inc.Sven Schimmelpfennig

Customer experience

OpenSnow

All ratings9,057 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral1.2%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews849 reviews
Positive80.3%
Neutral3.7%
Negative16.0%

ridespot

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

OpenSnow

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional crashes or freezes on certain devices
  • Inconsistencies in the display of weather data and forecasts

Requested features

5 requests
  • Expand coverage to more international ski resorts
  • Improve offline functionality and data availability
  • Introduce more customization options for user preferences
  • Enhance integration with other outdoor activity planning apps
  • Provide more detailed snow and weather data for backcountry use

ridespot

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

OpenSnow

Subscriptions3
  • OpenSnow Legacy$49.991 Year
  • OpenSnow Base$49.991 Year
  • OpenSnow Base Legacy$49.991 Year
None

ridespot

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OpenSnow free?
OpenSnow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ridespot free?
ridespot costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do OpenSnow or ridespot have ads?
Neither OpenSnow nor ridespot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenSnow or ridespot?
OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, and ridespot every 8 days. Most recently, OpenSnow was updated on October 20, 2026 and ridespot on October 11, 2026.

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