Comparison

Backcountry Ski vs AspectAvy

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

Head to head
About

Backcountry Ski

Access critical avalanche forecasts, field observations, and real-time mountain weather data on a single map. Plan backcountry ski tours with tools like travel time calculators, route sharing, and slope maps highlighting avalanche terrain.

Highlights
  • Avalanche forecasts and observations
  • Real-time mountain weather data
  • Hourly NOAA weather forecasts
  • Trip planning tools
  • Topographic slope maps
  • GPS tracking
  • Offline topo maps
Features
Read full description

Backcountry weather, avalanche data and trip planning resources all concisely displayed on one map. Easily review all the essentials before heading out on a tour: • Avalanche forecasts and field observations from avalanche centers across the country including Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Utah Avalanche Center, Teton Avalanche Center, Mount Washington Avalanche Center and more. • Real-time temperature, wind and snowfall data from 2,000+ mountain weather stations. Weather networks include SNOTEL, MADIS, CoCoRaHS, CWOP and many others. • Preview conditions in remote terrain with live overlays of today's snowfall, depth and coverage along with recent satellite views. • Weather forecast and observation summaries built specifically for backcountry ski zones. • Hourly NOAA weather forecasts for mountain summits and passes. • Filter observations and weather stations by zone (Berthoud, Loveland, etc) or create your own custom zones to monitor your go-to areas. Introducing Backcountry Condition Checks for the 2026/27 season: AI assisted weather queries for specific mountain locations and elevations. Ask "What will the high temperature be at 12,000 feet in Summit County tomorrow?", "Will it get below freezing tonight at Berthoud Pass?", "How windy will it be at the summit of Mount Washington tomorrow?". Get answers sourced directly from the National Weather Service and local weather stations. Comprehensive trip planning tools for backcountry skiers and snowboarders: • Munter calculator estimates ski tour travel times based on distance and vertical climb. • Create instant trip plans from your GPX tracks. Share route information, weather, avalanche forecasts and safety checklists with your partners. • Topographic slope maps highlight high-risk avalanche terrain. • GPS tracking to record and share your tours. • Submit and share observations from your tours (tap the plus button in the upper right corner). Create trip reports with photos and route beta. Built for the backcountry: • Offline topo maps work without cell service. • Home screen widgets for quick weather and avalanche updates. • All your backcountry resources displayed on one user-friendly map. What Backcountry Skiers Are Saying: "It's amazing to have all these tools packed neatly into one app... Finally!!!" "All the weather/snow-nerd data - it's all here." "A wealth of resources for backcountry skiers...this is my go to app." "Having NOAA point forecasts, avalanche outlook, and SNOTEL data all in one app is just the best. This is THE essential winter recreation app IMHO." =============== Offline topo maps, hourly weather forecasts, weather station data, zone filtering and munter calculator require pro subscription or $19.99 one time lifetime purchase.

About

AspectAvy

This app provides real-time avalanche safety information and tools for backcountry enthusiasts. It features dynamic slope angle shading, live forecasts, and LiDAR mapping to help users assess risk and make informed decisions in avalanche terrain.

Highlights
  • Dynamic slope angle shading
  • Live avalanche and weather forecasts
  • LiDAR mapping
  • Safety checklists
  • Built-in slope angle meter
  • Route tracking and sharing
Read full description

At AspectAvy, our mission is to save lives from avalanches. Which is why we developed a whole new class of avalanche safety gear: preventive avalanche safety gear. AspectAvy Features: DYNAMIC SLOPE ANGLE SHADING This feature separates AspectAvy and makes us an avalanche safety tool. Our maps update slope angle shading in real-time based on the conditions you’re experiencing on the mountain. Even in airplane mode, we visualize the risk factor, helping to relieve decision fatigue, and giving you an objective picture of the risk level around your immediate location. LIVE AVALANCHE AND WEATHER FORECASTS We incorporate up-to-the-minute live avalanche and weather forecasts right into the app. The forecasts and maps are stored locally on your phone, meaning you have access to the most recent downladed information. Closing the gap between planning and touring, and ensuring you have the most updated forecast information available. INDUSTRY-LEADING LiDAR MAPPING Our rock-solid, fast-loading LiDAR maps are stored locally on your phone, meaning you’re not straining for a signal when decisions matter most. Accurate to 3-meter resolution, you’ll see the terrain and risk factor around your precise location. Giving you control of the slopes you ski, and putting peace of mind in your pocket. TRAILHEAD AND DROP-IN SAFETY CHECKS Our comprehensive and interactive safety checklists help ensure your preparedness, grounding your group in proper avalanche safety best practices. BUILT-IN SLOPE ANGLE METER Our built-in slope angle meter helps you verify slope angle so you know where to ski based on real-time risk levels. It also calculates the length of avalanche run-out zones, keeping you safe at the top of the slope, and the bottom when you’re traveling through avalanche terrain. ROUTE TRACKING AND SHARING Industry standard GPS route tracking shows exactly where your tour traveled, and makes it easy to share the route with everyone in your group. You can even see when and where you were close to avalanche danger, and where you avoided higher-risk terrain. DATA-DRIVEN SAFETY Our algorithm was built on decades of avalanche safety data. By harnessing this data, AspectAvy provides you with clear and precise route recommendations based on avalanche statistics. We pinpoint low-risk slopes – with risk levels akin to driving a car – empowering you to make informed choices with confidence, ensuring an exciting, yet safe backcountry skiing experience. Not available in Alaska or New Hampshire Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Backcountry Ski4 screens
AspectAvy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Backcountry Ski at 4.6 against AspectAvy's 3.8. Backcountry Ski also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (63% vs 50%). AspectAvy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price and ads 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

Both are free to download. Backcountry Ski sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. AspectAvy asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Backcountry Ski holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backcountry Ski has 261 ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Backcountry Ski's written reviews are positive against 50% of AspectAvy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backcountry Ski ships an update weekly, AspectAvy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Backcountry Ski versus AspectAvy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackcountry SkiAspectAvy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (261 ratings) — better3.8 (37 ratings)
Positive reviews63.2% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings261 — better37
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB83 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSki the Backcountry Ltd.Aspect Avy Inc

Customer experience

Backcountry Ski

All ratings261 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive63.2%
Neutral5.3%
Negative31.6%

AspectAvy

All ratings37 ratings
Positive67.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative29.7%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Backcountry Ski

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Bug where avy report wouldn't load
  • App never sends password reset email
  • No current forecasts
  • Maps won't download
  • App freezes when starting a route
Show 1 more
  • App crashes when open

Requested features

6 requests
  • See local snowtel sites on map view
  • Fix elevation data accuracy
  • Improve slope angle overlay precision and legend
  • Make map download intuitive
  • Allow trial subscription cancellation within app/App Store
Show 1 more
  • Fix dead-end developer contacts

AspectAvy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Backcountry Ski

Subscriptions1
  • Backcountry Beta Pro7 Days trial$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro Subscription$19.99
None

AspectAvy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backcountry Ski free?
Backcountry Ski is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AspectAvy free?
AspectAvy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Backcountry Ski or AspectAvy?
Backcountry Ski is rated higher. Backcountry Ski averages 4.6 out of 5 from 261 ratings, while AspectAvy averages 3.8 from 37 ratings.
Do Backcountry Ski or AspectAvy have ads?
Neither Backcountry Ski nor AspectAvy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backcountry Ski or AspectAvy?
Backcountry Ski ships an update weekly, and AspectAvy every 2 months. Most recently, Backcountry Ski was updated on October 29, 2026 and AspectAvy on October 24, 2026.

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