EPA AIRNow Reviews

EPAAIRNow is so inaccurate and misleading, it’s hard to understand how EPA could get it SO wrong. As I attempt to breathe in a particle- filled haze of smokey Sierra Nevada air during this California fire season, Air Now consistently says all is just fine with a little smiley face and green color coding signifying healthy air. Meanwhile every other app, such a Purple Air and IQAir, are accurately telling me the air is hazardous. As an environmental scientist myself I wonder what data and algorithms EPA could possibly be using to be so wrong and about something this important to public health. Don’t bother with EPAAIRNow - try the others listed above if you want evidence based information on air quality.

Of all the pollution tracking apps, it’s embarrassing that the official US app is the worst. Although under this current administration of deniers and enablers, I can see why it is so.

So why is it terrible? It only tracks and identifies PM2.5 and O3 in the atmosphere. That’s one of many dangerous and cancer causing agents in the air. It doesn’t track PM10- pollution that’s visible. So right now the sky from fires is orange and gray and hailing down ashes and the EPA AirNow app has a GREEN 34. A joke! It also doesn’t identify NO2- nitrous diOxide from the bringing of fossil fuels like coal,oil, gas, and diesel. Which currently is 110- a very harmful level.

So in short- if you actually care about your health, that of your family and friends, don’t use EPAAIRNow OR BETTER YET, demand that they update to include all the really harmful elements. For us, the best monitor we’ve found so far is PLUME LABS
followed by Air Matters and Air Visual- which are only slightly better than the EPA app.

EPAAIRNow provides 1/10 of information provided by the original website website which I started using in 2012 which had way more useful clear information and facts. Even the new website is just as awful. The new website crashes with just about every use. I’m not sure if the government cut so much funding to the EPA that a decent app isn’t tangible but I have seen the past versions of AirNow and I will tell you that it absolutely outdoes what they offer now times a 100.

I feel like something of this importance would be much more informative than this.. maybe add the ability to SHARE the days numbers? Or EXPLAIN what ground level ozone is? Maybe add a local or searchable and customizable timeline? Data tools? Links? More info...please.... hey you know what else would be rad??? If you guys loaned out air quality sensors across the country (at least) so we could fill in some blanks, get some accurate data logged in case there’s a future that is in the position to have interest in the atmosphere of today... assuming all goes well enough, somehow, ooh

I live close to a huge fire in Northern California. Last evening the sky was cloudy. This morning it seems almost like night — very dark orange sky. Very smokey. Ash falling like rain. But EPAAIRNow says that the air quality is 114. It has had this reading for 12 hours. The air quality has to be well in the 200’s. So, when is EPAAIRNow actually updated? It is not providing accurate information now, nor has it for the last 12 hours. Well, my eyes and nose are surely giving me an accurate air quality index.

I downloaded this application with the hopes of getting close to accurate air quality readings because due to the fires in Northern California the air quality is hazardous. In Fernley, Nevada it says the air quality is (36) good but the AQI here is well over 500. The smoke is penetrating the house and extremely foggy outside, air difficult to breathe, yet the EPA has determined that the air quality here is good?! It’s extremely difficult to believe that this air constitutes as good. EPAAIRNow needs constant accurate updating.

EPAAIRNow does not meet my minimum usability needs due to the following:
- Users must discover for themselves which locations exist for displaying the AQI. I.e. no map is available and the location search box allows a user to believe all cities are available for display until after a city is selected, only to find out after a drawn out process no information is available for the desired city.
- Removing a Place is extremely awkward.

Just downloaded EPAAIRNow to try and monitor multiple locations in one convenient app. However, the default setting is PM10 which is great and all. However for OSHA purposes it would be nice to be able to change the readings to display the PM2.5 levels.

AirNow should be renamed "Air An Hour or Two Ago" ! If it isn't possible to provide actual, real time data then at least PUT THE TIME OF THE AQI READING RIGHT BELOW AQI, RIGHT ON THE MAIN SCREEN. Otherwise you mislead everyone who doesn't bother to tap "Details" (every single time) to see whether the reading is from an hour ago or whatever.

Specific location too please!

EPAAIRNow is a good start, but it is not providing the full picture.... thus creating a false sense of security. PM 10 and PM 2.5 particulate matter is shown, as is ozone. But there are no measurements for NO2 or VOC. EPAAIRNow may show great air quality, showing low particulate matter - but what about NO2? I give it three stars for usability and the simple UI. But no stars for the information provided because giving a report of good.... when the NO2 levels are high is wrong.

Not very much information given and sometimes it flat out gives “not available” especially right when the air quality makes a huge shift. making it impossible to keep up with current air quality levels at the most critical times.

Yet another update:

EPAAIRNow does NOT give real-time, there are articles online that explain why. It's not a bad app, but I guess it does the job of presenting epa's official aqi?

SERIOUS UPDATE:

TO ANYONE IN CALIFORNIA READING THIS, USING PURPLE AIR (browser) INSTEAD OF EPAAIRNow. The visibility in my hometown has suddenly gotten a lot worse (in the past half hour, we have gone from 150 aqi to 500!!), but EPAAIRNow says we are still at 128 aqi!!) EPAAIRNow just does not update quickly enough!! DO NOT RELY ON EPAAIRNow UNTIL THEY FIX IT.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

The aqi on EPAAIRNow seems to be straight up wrong. It does accurately show the aqi listed on the official website, but I can't tell if the sensors are straight up wrong or if the data is slow-updating. For instance, last night in my area the aqi finally dropped to around 50's. Visibly the smoke had disappeared and the smell of wildfire smoke gone. Today (this morning) visibly the smoke is back and the smell is stronger than ever. EPAAIRNow (and its website) says that the current air quality is still only 50's aqi?! I cross-referenced with some Purple air sensors (aka community provided sensors), and the sensors near my house seem to be reporting a way-more accurate aqi of 150+. What is going on?! Can I trust EPAAIRNow?!

Original:

Great app that shows the aqi of any chosen city. I think it would be even better if it added the interactive map (that's already available on AirNow's website)!

I really like EPAAIRNow and in general it is easy to use. It took me awhile, though, to figure out how to delete a location from the “places” list. To delete a location, tap “Places” at the bottom right of the home screen. The next screen will be a list of places and an option to add a new place at the bottom of the list. Tapping the settings icon at the top of the “Places” screen will give you the option to delete places from the list.

Would be 5 stars if it had worldwide coverage. If you only care about locations in the US this is the best app I’ve tried. All air quality apps only update once per hour. This one tends to update about 15 minutes after the hour, but afaik based on EPAAIRNow and others, updates are sensor dependent.

I have been using EPAAIRNow for several years now, especially during FIRE SEASON on the west coast. Now it will save/display multiple locations on the same page. Huge improvement!! Please make EPAAIRNow capable of rotating on the ipad, iphone view only is not an improvement, hence 4 stars. I appreciate the graphics though.

I chose EPAAIRNow after trying the two air quality apps with the highest star ratings. EPAAIRNow was the easiest to use, and I like that I don’t need to create an account to use it. I have been recommending it to friends and family.

With the new map feature you can select options to see permanent air quality monitors and wildfires along with terrain for the most up to date information I’ve found from other apps/websites.

I definitely recommend this if you often check websites for information. It’s much faster to get information and I have checked with other sites to make sure it is accurate and so far it is. I am confident in EPAAIRNow and I really appreciate the forecast and summary of the week they give. It really gives me a peace of mind.

My eight-year-old daughter loves checking the air quality every morning! We even have added the cities where all our relatives live (including my brother in Los Angeles), and she enjoys letting her grandparents know when they should stay inside. She also tracked how LA went from purple before quarantine to yellow during lockdown to back to unhealthy during wildfire season…

The visual presentation is super: you immediately see the air quality and what the health ranges are. I used the website in past years and it had the same information, but not as well presented. The current websis like EPAAIRNow, but EPAAIRNow is easier to use.

EPA needs to update EPAAIRNow for the current IOS. EPAAIRNow has great potential to advise people on the air quality in their current location. The use of EPAAIRNow can help people who are susceptible to respiratory issues as well as non-susceptible people who like to be conscious of the air quality for recreational purposes. Schools, hospitals, outdoor employment and recreational agencies/facilities, etc. will be able to advise people on air quality and outdoor activities. EPA, please update EPAAIRNow so it can serve its purpose.

As this review is being written, the sun is bright red, the air is as dark as during the solar eclipse in western Washington. This area is being hit hard by wildfire smoke from every which direction. It reeks of smoke/creosote/cooked cheese weenies. EVERYTHING is coated in a fine and coarse extremely visible ash. The air/sky is a thick dark smokers' yellow color, and EPAAIRNow says only 'moderately' bad air quality for the area- and that tomorrow is suppose to be 'good'. To boot, it's suppose to be at 90 today- and probably will be. We aren't expecting some kind of rain or wind change for two more days. If you run your fans or a/c, your units will get clogged with ash. I have asthma- trust me- EPAAIRNow is absolutely not to be trusted. I'd rate zero stars if possible.

I am interested in EPAAIRNow because of the poor air quality in my area. I was led to it via the EPA's website. According to the local news, tmrw we will be experiencing an "Ozone Action Day" and since I have respiratory problems, I thought it'd be nice to have an app with air quality info as I rarely watch television.
But EPAAIRNow is completely broken. Not only will it not completely install, I CANNOT DELETE IT EITHER.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING AND GET THIS GARBAGE OFF OF MY PHONE PRONTO!!!!

When I downloaded this, ~ 6-1-12, it worked great! Lived it! Told all my friends about it! Used it every day until about mid-Jan. 2013 when it completely quit working. Tried reinstalling EPAAIRNow . To no avail. I have lung disease that is made much worse by high levels of particulate matter in the air. It's a hassle to have to go to the web site, look up Tulsa, read through the data to find out what I could get in less than a minute on the iOS app. :-((((
Please fix what is wrong PLEASE!!!
I love the website! Use it for deeper info, research etc. I NEED EPAAIRNow TO WORK! Thanks.

I'm really glad EPAAIRNow exists, it serves as a valuable resource for those wishing to limit their exposure to particulates and other pollution in the United States when exercising outdoors. That said, EPAAIRNow is really out of date, and wasn't really the best designed app to begin with; it could really use an update and a bit of love. I hope the EPA looks at these reviews and actually does something about EPAAIRNow to improve it.

EPAAIRNow could have been updated had the EPA not been starved of money since January 2017. It shows its age in its rather primitive design. It is hard to know how frequently the info displayed is updated. I live near one of the sites where air quality is measured, and have not noticed major discrepancies between reported and actual. It’s worth getting if you are near a test site. Otherwise I doubt it.

Super simple app. It finds your location (closest monitored area...for me 15 miles from home) and gives you an Air Quality Control Index number. Next tab is health info which gives you the definition for each color coded number. Sweet and simple.

I verified the numbers online and they have matched.

Much better/faster than loading the website on my phone everyday. Thanks! 😄

Gives me valuable info when i need it! Let's hope the far right in congress doesn't destroy the EPA and keep info like this from the public!

This has a nice clean interface and quickly puts helpful hourly air quality information in people's hands. I'm excited to see how people will use this info to either change their daily plans or advocate for better air quality. Great job!

I'm a cyclist and hiker and EPAAIRNow is very helpful for quickly checking air quality when going outside.

Only app I can find the list the heat and pollution separately. Not a fan of location features so that didn't matter to me. I also like that that they list the forecast as well as what the current warning is, since a heat index changes throughout the day. It helps me manage my sons asthma while he is at day care while I'm an hour away work. Love it!

I love EPAAIRNow. It is clear, concise and easy to read. The location tracker and readings for east coast cities works great. I do wish that they had more monitoring stations available to better track outside of metro areas. I have asthma and use EPAAIRNow to help me track the safest time to ride my bike for 20+ mile distances. I don't leave my home without checking first! Well done, EPA!

I use EPAAIRNow to check the air quality (in the United States) before I run outsider. I think this is a must have app for anyone who lives in a large city, where the air is sometimes hazing and potentially full of particulates. The interface is ugly, but EPAAIRNow does exactly what I want to do, giving me the information I want immediately without hassle. Thanks for EPAAIRNow!

Works great, found my city information. Great app and just what I was looking for.