NOAA Marine Buoy and Weather is a utility app that provides real-time marine weather data from NOAA buoy stations to mariners and coastal enthusiasts on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the cognitive cost of navigating government websites by surfacing specific, location-based marine metrics directly on a mobile device.
For Mariners, surfers, fishermen, and coastal residents requiring government-sourced marine weather data.
What does it look like?
Key features
Visual access to real-time conditions from supported NOAA buoy stations.
Interactive charts and graphs for analyzing weather trends over time.
Geospatial view of all NOAA buoy stations with location-based search.
How much does it cost?
The app operates as a free utility with no visible subscription or IAP gates in the current version.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentUX improvementsShow more...
With only one release in the last 151 days, the app operates on a maintenance cadence. Development is infrequent and limited to minor adjustments rather than significant feature expansion. The latest release focused on updating buoy data graphs, but no further activity has been observed since March 2026. The project shows no signs of active feature development or live operations.
Who built it?
Anthony Piscopo
3 apps tracked · Weather
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
Not enough recent reviews to extract reliable themes yet.
Read the full review analysisCompetition
Competitive landscape for NOAA Marine Buoy and Weather
How's the Weather market?
NOAA Marine Buoy and Weather occupies a niche utility space in the Weather category, maintaining a 4.3-star rating across its limited review base. The lack of recent updates suggests a stable, low-maintenance position rather than an aggressive growth strategy.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
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Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for NOAA Marine Buoy and Weather
Where is it heading?
The marine weather utility market is consolidating around apps that offer both raw data and proactive alerting. NOAA Marine Buoy and Weather remains a reliable reference tool, but its static nature leaves it exposed to competitors who offer more dynamic engagement features.
- The five-month release gap indicates a maintenance-only posture, which limits the app's ability to respond to changing user needs.
- The free, ad-free utility model maintains high trust with the core maritime audience, preventing churn to monetized alternatives.
The SWOT
- Direct NOAA network integration provides a defensible data source
- Threshold-based push notifications would create a recurring retention loop
Next best moves
Ship threshold-based push notifications because the current static model lacks a retention loop → increase daily active usage
The counter-intuitive read
The app's lack of updates is a feature, not a bug…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The app remains in a static maintenance state with no functional or pricing updates. The primary shift is a more explicit articulation of the product's lack of proactive alerting as a competitive weakness.
Bottom line
NOAA Marine Buoy and Weather serves a specific, high-intent audience through reliable data access. Introducing proactive alerts would shift the app from a static reference tool to a daily utility, securing its position against broader weather competitors.
Unlock 1 critical friction, 1 market threat and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is NOAA Marine Buoy and Weather free to use?
Does this app provide real-time marine data?
What is the main limitation of this app?
Sources
- [1] App Store, source
Report last updated