Report updated Apr 7, 2026

What Is NOAA Marine Forecast & Weather?

NOAA Marine Forecast & Weather is a utility-focused iOS app providing localized marine weather and tide data via a simple map-based interface. It targets boaters and fishermen who prioritize speed and NWS-sourced accuracy. Positioned as a low-cost, one-time purchase ($1.99), it differentiates itself through a 'tap anywhere' forecast model and automatic history tracking, avoiding the complexity and recurring costs of modern competitors.

What does it look like?

What are the key features?

Spot-Specific Marine ForecastsDifferentiator

Provides localized weather, wind, and wave data by tapping any point on the map.

Automatic History TrackingDifferentiator

Automatically saves the most recently viewed forecast for quick access without needing to manage favorites.

NOAA Tide ForecastsStandard

Includes hourly tide data visualized through interactive graphs.

Severe Weather AdvisoriesStandard

Real-time alerts for hazardous marine weather conditions.

What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.

Gathering public signals...

Sentiment analysis will be available once enough user reviews are collected.

How is it ranked?

ChartRankChange
Paid#5816
No rank history available for this chart.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • High user rating (4.65) indicating strong reliability
  • Low-friction 'tap anywhere' map interface
  • No-subscription, one-time purchase model
  • Automatic history tracking reduces user effort

Cons

  • Infrequent update cadence (last updated mid-2023)
  • iOS exclusive; no Android presence
  • Zero social media or web presence for brand building
  • Basic UI compared to modern premium competitors

What is the market outlook?

Growth Opportunities

  • Capture subscription-weary users from competitors like Windy
  • Expand to Android to double potential user base
  • Implement modern iOS features like widgets for better retention

Market Threats

  • Declining App Store rankings (↓16 in Paid Weather)
  • Newer competitors with superior UI/UX (e.g., Tide Guide)
  • Technological disruption from high-tech data sources like Saildrone

Who competes with NOAA Marine Forecast & Weather?

Contenders

Windy.app — Wind, Tides, Radar

Windy.app — Wind, Tides, Radar

Windy Weather World Inc

A high-growth competitor offering specialized marine weather profiles and advanced wave data.

+

A high-growth competitor offering specialized marine weather profiles and advanced wave data.

Buoyweather - Marine Forecasts

Buoyweather - Marine Forecasts

Surfline/Wavetrak

Provides point-specific marine forecasts globally, directly competing with the 'tap anywhere' feature.

+

Provides point-specific marine forecasts globally, directly competing with the 'tap anywhere' feature.

Tides Near Me

Tides Near Me

Shelter Island Mapping Company, LLC

The leading simple utility for tide data, competing directly with the NOAA tide forecast features.

+

The leading simple utility for tide data, competing directly with the NOAA tide forecast features.

SailFlow: Marine Forecasts

SailFlow: Marine Forecasts

WeatherFlow

Targeted at the sailing community with high-resolution wind and marine weather data.

+

Targeted at the sailing community with high-resolution wind and marine weather data.

Peers

+

Focuses on wave and swell data for surfers, overlapping with the marine enthusiast audience.

+

Global Live Cam Network

+

A broad weather app with powerful map-based visualization that many boaters use for storm tracking.

+

Hyper-local Rain Alerts

Tide Alert (NOAA) - Tide Chart

Tide Alert (NOAA) - Tide Chart

Rivolu LLC

A direct competitor in the NOAA-sourced tide and moon phase utility sub-genre.

+

A direct competitor in the NOAA-sourced tide and moon phase utility sub-genre.

New Kids on the Block

Tide Guide: Charts & Tables

Tide Guide: Charts & Tables

Condor Digital

A modern, highly-rated newcomer with a premium UI that targets the same tide and marine weather needs.

+

A modern, highly-rated newcomer with a premium UI that targets the same tide and marine weather needs.

What are the key takeaways?

NOAA Marine Forecast & Weather is a divisive weather app that is a paid app. With a 4.6/5 rating from 4.9K reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users.

Best for: Boaters, fishermen, and marine enthusiasts who require quick, reliable, and localized NOAA weather and tide data without complex account setups.

How much does it cost?

Model: paid

Tiers:
One-time purchase of $1.99

The app avoids subscription fatigue by offering a simple, low-cost entry point, positioning itself as a permanent utility for the user's toolkit.

iOS Version

1.3

Release Date

May 30, 2017

iOS Price

$1.99

Independent intel to help builders create better apps.

No publisher influence. No third-party bias. Built with objectivity in mind to serve the builder community. Reports are continuously improved and refined. For informational purposes only.

Hope this helps & keep building! · Found an error?

Cite this report

Marlvel.ai. “NOAA Marine Forecast & Weather Intelligence Report.” Updated Apr 7, 2026. https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/weather/lwbrandsllc-noaaforecast

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