# OpenSnow vs Heliocast

The clearest difference is chart position: OpenSnow at #19 against Heliocast's unranked. Heliocast's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OpenSnow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year and Heliocast sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, Heliocast fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenSnow | Heliocast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (9.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensnow/id780890907/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9.1K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | — |
| Size | 126 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cloudnine Weather, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/487445927) | [Ingenio Productions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1249919346) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenSnow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensnow/id780890907)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Grossing · Weather, #37 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OpenSnow Legacy | $49.99 | per year |
| OpenSnow Base | $49.99 | per year |
| OpenSnow Base Legacy | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate snow forecasts
- 📊 Detailed weather data and maps
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of ski resorts
- 💻 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🤖 Reliable and consistent forecasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model can be expensive
- 🌐 Limited coverage outside of North America
- 🕰️ Occasional delays in updating snow conditions
- 🤖 Inconsistent accuracy in long-term forecasts
- 🔒 Paywall restricts access to some features

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Heliocast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliocast-aurora-forecast/id6796057193)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heliocast Pro (Annual) | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenSnow free?

OpenSnow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Heliocast free?

Heliocast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do OpenSnow or Heliocast have ads?

Neither OpenSnow nor Heliocast shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenSnow or Heliocast?

OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, and Heliocast fortnightly. Most recently, OpenSnow was updated on November 1, 2026 and Heliocast on October 15, 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.*