# OpenSnow vs CAIC

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CAIC at none against OpenSnow's 3. CAIC also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 17.0). OpenSnow's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months). 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. CAIC asks for nothing beyond the download.

OpenSnow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenSnow has 9.1K ratings behind it against 15, 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 70% of CAIC's.

OpenSnow ships an update every 2 weeks, CAIC every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenSnow | CAIC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (9.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opensnow/id780890907/reviews)** | [4.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caic/id956986311/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9.1K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **80.4% of reviews** | 70.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#65** | — |
| Size | 125 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cloudnine Weather LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/487445927) | [FRIENDS OF COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER](https://appshunter.io/developer/956986310) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenSnow

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

**Currently charting:** #65 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


### CAIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caic/id956986311)

Access up-to-date avalanche forecasts for Colorado's mountains. View summaries, discussions, current problems, and mountain weather. Submit observations directly to the center from your device.

**Highlights:** Up-to-date avalanche forecasts, Forecast summary and discussion, Current avalanche problems, Mountain weather forecast, Submit observations, Colorado-specific forecasts

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenSnow free?

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

### Is CAIC free?

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

### Which has better reviews, OpenSnow or CAIC?

OpenSnow is rated higher. OpenSnow averages 4.7 out of 5 from 9.1K ratings, while CAIC averages 4.3 from 15 ratings.

### Do OpenSnow or CAIC have ads?

Neither OpenSnow nor CAIC shows ads.

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

OpenSnow ships an update every 2 weeks, and CAIC every 6 months. Most recently, OpenSnow was updated on September 28, 2026 and CAIC on September 16, 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.*