Local Haze

The good: intuitive access to sensor network, more accuracy than other apps I’ve used, sensor reliability indicators. The bad: favorites cannot be grouped by location. The ugly: $10/year subscription to turn on air quality push notifications. Notifications are a basic safety feature in an air quality app, and linking them to a subscription service feels like hostage-taking. I’d gladly pay $30 for a one-time purchase of this app, but signing on to an open ended recurring payment where I’m opted into future price hikes is a hard no. The guy who invented SaaS should be vilified as one of history’s greatest scoundrels.

I am happy to give Local Haze a five star review. It has more monitors that update more frequently than any other phone based air quality app. When there is a local fire and shifting winds, it tells me when to bring the kids in NOW not waiting an hour and a half like some other (generally good) apps. The graphics are simple and the features are few, but what it does, it does very well. And here in Northern California, that is critical.

I have found that while Purple Air does not have an official app, Local Haze offers a simple app to view PM 1, 2.5, and 10 data as well as AQI readings. I only wish temp and humidity were also available on the app from the Purple Air monitor.