# OpenSnow vs Snow Alerts

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Snow Alerts at none against OpenSnow's 3. Snow Alerts also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.0). OpenSnow's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (9.1K vs 123). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OpenSnow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Snow Alerts asks for nothing beyond the download.

OpenSnow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenSnow has 9.1K ratings behind it against 123, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of OpenSnow's written reviews are positive against 61% of Snow Alerts's.

OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, Snow Alerts every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenSnow | Snow Alerts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (9.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensnow/id780890907/reviews)** | [4.5 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snow-alerts/id808346661/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.1K** | 123 |
| Positive reviews | **80.4% of reviews** | 60.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#49** | — |
| Size | 125 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Cloudnine Weather, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/487445927) | [Bust Out Solutions, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/429552521) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenSnow

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

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Grossing · Weather, #122 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


### Snow Alerts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snow-alerts/id808346661)

Never worry about snow emergency parking again. Receive timely push notifications for snow emergency declarations and when it's time to move your vehicle. Understand parking rules clearly with an intuitive timeline and simple explanations.

**Highlights:** Customizable push notifications, Snow emergency parking timeline, Clear, simple rule explanations, Notifications for moving cars, Handles overlapping emergencies

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenSnow free?

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

### Is Snow Alerts free?

Snow Alerts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, OpenSnow or Snow Alerts?

OpenSnow is rated higher. OpenSnow averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.1K ratings, while Snow Alerts averages 4.5 from 123 ratings.

### Do OpenSnow or Snow Alerts have ads?

Neither OpenSnow nor Snow Alerts shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenSnow or Snow Alerts?

OpenSnow ships an update every 11 days, and Snow Alerts every 11 months. Most recently, OpenSnow was updated on October 3, 2026 and Snow Alerts on September 30, 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.*