The Best 8 Weather Apps Of 2023
No one loves surprises from the weather. Abrupt weather changes can ruin your plans, whether it forces you to cancel your camping adventure or increases the risk of an accident during your road trip. Having a clear picture of the weather forecast can save you from such unwelcome surprises.
While there are native iOS and Android weather solutions you can use today, most will only provide the bare minimum weather forecast information. In comparison, many third-party apps offer additional information like air quality, humidity level and hurricane alerts.
Everyone has something they prioritize when looking for weather apps. While some people will be interested in the risk of contracting allergies, others will want to know how visible the roads will be on their morning commute. That's why we curated a list that cuts across different needs, from app accuracy and device compatibility to price.
Our Top Picks For The Best Weather App
- Best for Weather Enthusiasts – Radarscope
- Best for Privacy – Weather Underground
- Best for Hyperlocal Rainfall Alerts – MyRadar
- Best User Interface – CARROT Weather
- Best for Multi-Language Support – AccuWeather
- Best Free Weather App – The Weather Channel
- Best for Widgets – 1Weather
- Best for iPhone – Dark Sky
Best Weather App Reviews
RadarScope is designed for extreme weather hobbyists or anyone looking for weather information beyond the ordinary. The app allows users to scroll through weather maps. Zoom in and out of images and switch between 289 radar databases for accurate information. It'll also provide timely warnings for tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and flash floods.
RadarScope is the perfect app for weather enthusiasts. You can access information that's drawn from NEXRAD and Super-Resolution radar data. You'll get data from radars in the US, Canada, Guam, Japan and Puerto Rico.
Besides providing information on rainfall and humidity, the app also offers details like reflectivity, dual-polarization and velocity.
Price
RadarScope isn't free. Android and iOS users pay a one-time fee of $10, while Windows and Mac users pay $30. The app also has a subscription model that unlocks more features for users.
- Pro Tier 1 users pay $10 annually for additional features like radar and lightning animations and dual-pane capability, which allows them to compare two sets of radars.
- Pro Tier 2 users pay $100 annually to unlock everything from accessing an extensive radar archive to viewing sheer contouring, which highlights rotations in a storm.
Compatibility
RadarScope is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows and Mac.
Weather Underground provides hyperlocal daily forecasts for different neighborhoods. From the app's homepage, you can view the daily high and low temperatures, wind information and precipitation. It also gives you access to interactive radar, satellite maps and severe weather alerts.
If you tap "More" on the homepage, the app provides further information like humidity, air quality index, visibility, UV index and even flu outbreaks. You can access weekly and hourly forecasts, weather forecast videos and news stories.
Weather Underground lets you know that it'll use your information for ad targeting from the outset. It is more privacy-centric because it allows you to change privacy permissions. For instance, it has a privacy settings page that allows you to restrict the use of your information to ads and nothing else. You can also request a copy of your data and order the deletion of your data directly from the app.
Price
Weather Underground is free on Android and iOS devices. However, you'll need to pay $4 monthly or $20 annually to unlock the premium, ad-free version. The premium version allows you to access weather forecasts 15 days into the future.
Compatibility
The app is compatible with iOS, Android, Mac and Windows devices.
MyRadar uses your phone's GPS location to provide hyperlocal weather data anywhere in the world. It displays weather conditions in high-definition radar images for a comprehensive view of the kind of weather to expect.
You can set up push notifications on the app to get alerted whenever there'll be rainfall in your area, a feature that is currently patent pending.
MyRadar also features a fantastic class of environmentally-related data layers you can overlay on its map for conclusive weather forecasts. These layers include:
- An animated wind layer that provides a visual representation of the wind surface at the jet stream level
- A frontal boundaries layer that depicts high and low-pressure systems
- An earthquake layer that helps you stay informed about seismic activity
- A hurricane layer to track tropical storms and hurricane activity anywhere in the world
- An aviation layer that overlays SIGMETs and AIRMETs data to help you assess flight plans
Price
MyRadar is inherently free, but you can pay $25 annually to unlock premium features. Some of these premium features include more in-depth real-time hurricane tracking and access to greater radar detail from individual weather stations.
Compatibility
MyRadar is compatible with Windows, iOS and Android devices.
CARROT Weather is the way to go if you're looking for an app that will offer you weather updates in an amusing and aesthetically-pleasing manner. CARROT Weather differentiates itself from other weather apps through its user interface. It has attractive images that help display the weather forecasts uniquely. It also uses over 2,000 hilarious spoken phrases to describe weather conditions.
The app offers reliable 24-hour and seven-day weather reports to help you plan your week accordingly. It also uses Dark Sky technology to offer minute-specific predictions for downpours, but this feature only works in the UK, US, Canada and Ireland. Use the app to determine additional weather information like moon phase, humidity, wind speed, dew point and wind direction.
Price
The app has a free subscription that limits users to a number of features. It has three premium tiers:
- Premium: at $5 per month or $20 annually, users can unlock more weather data sources, widgets and notification customizations.
- Premium Ultra: at $10/month or $40/year, users can unlock all premium features plus rain, storm and lighting notification and quick data source switching.
- Premium Family: at $15/month or $60/year, users can unlock all premium ultra features and share the app with up to five family members through Apple's Family Sharing service.
Compatibility
The app is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac devices.
If you need an app that'll offer you reliable weather alerts against a colorful backdrop, AccuWeather is the app to choose. Use the app to access unique weather details like UV index, allergens and precipitation.
AccuWeather is attractive in that it supports multiple languages. People can enjoy this app's features worldwide without needing to use English.
The app also offers daily, hourly or minute-by-minute weather tracking based on the user's preference. Besides offering weather alerts for severe weather, it also features an advanced radar to provide real-time information like snow, rain, ice and temperature drops.
Price
You can use the app for free. However, if you wish to have an ad-free experience and unlock an extra 10 days of forecast data, the Premium subscription costs $8.99 per year and the Premium+ subscription costs $19.99 per year.
Compatibility
AccuWeather is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Owned by IBM, The Weather Channel is a free weather app that provides easy-to-digest weather information from a user-friendly interface. You can receive weather forecasts 15 days into the future. It offers forecasts at both hourly and daily intervals.
Some of its features include a tracker for moon phases, a running index to help runners identify the best jogging time and an air quality index to help you measure the presence of pollen and other materials in your area. The app allows people that reside in the UK, US, Mexico, France, Spain, China, Germany and India to download an air quality report.
Price
The Weather Channel is free for all users, but it's ad-supported.
Compatibility
This app is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
1Weather manages to display a lot of weather information without feeling too cluttered. You can access features like a temperature tracker, tornado warnings and a storm tracker.
1Weather's widgets make it easy to view weather forecasts at a glance without opening the mobile app. Even better, you can customize the widgets to show the weather elements you're most interested in.
Users can enjoy an hourly weather forecast for up to 48 hours, plus a 10-day weather forecast. The app also offers a 12-week forecast for anyone who wants to plan ahead of time. You can use it to track the weather for 12 different locations simultaneously.
For detailed weather forecasts, 1Weather allows you to access radar maps, moon phases, graphs and much more. It also features informative videos, aviation and marine forecasts and customizable weather alerts. 1Weather comes with handy widgets to help you access the weather forecast at a glance.
Price
1Weather is free to use but contains ads. You can remove the ads by subscribing to the ad-free version for $2 per month.
Compatibility
1Weather is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
The Dark Sky weather app is an iOS-exclusive weather app that allows you to view weather forecasts in 40 languages for up to eight locations. It allows you to view temperature highs and lows, current weather conditions and humidity. You also gain access to weather forecasts 14 days into the future.
By clicking on any day's forecast, you'll see the 24-hour temperature, wind, humidity, precipitation and UV index chart at a glance. Click on the day's weather forecast again, and you'll access more data like pressure indicators, moon phases and visibility readings.
One of the most unique Dark Sky app features is the Time Machine feature, which allows you to view historical weather data or predictions for a specific day in the future.
What's better is that the app allows you to create a customized weather summary that contains a combination of 20 data points like nearest storm location, humidity, wind speeds and precipitation. You can also choose the time of day you receive notifications from the app. Since the app is Apple-exclusive, all of your notifications and customizations sync with your Apple devices through iCloud.
Price
The Dark Sky weather app has a seven-day free trial, after which you'll need to pay a one-time fee of $4.
Compatibility
The app is only compatible with iOS devices as of now. Apple purchased the app in 2020 and removed it from the Google Play Store. However, Apple plans to shut down the iOS version by December 31, 2022. Until it does, the app is your best weather app for iOS.
Other Weather Apps We Considered
While we feel that the apps above are the best weather apps available, there are other apps that come close. Our list of honorable mentions includes WeatherBug, Windy App and NOAA Weather Radar Live.
WeatherBug
WeatherBug might not have the reputation it did a few years ago, though it still does a great job of providing hyperlocal weather updates. It has a network of weather stations situated in homes, schools, television stations and other locations worldwide. You can get good weather and lighting data for free on this app.
We didn't include it since the app has relatively low-quality radar images. Its premium version only eliminates ads without adding any special functionality.
NOAA Weather Radar Live
NOAA Weather Radar Live features sharp radar imagery that can be helpful when tracking rain, winds and snow. The app used to be great due to its amazing design and availability of free weather data. However, it turned most of its free weather data into paid data.
Windy.app
Windy.app is an excellent app for people looking for a comprehensive idea of the weather, such as pilots and boaters. The app allows you to overlay wind data information in a visually appealing format. You can also layer other information on top of it, including precipitation and cloud cover.
The downside to Windy.app is its lagging data, which is often older than five minutes. It also isn't as beginner-friendly as most of the apps on our list.
Weather App Guide
You'll find multiple weather apps on your app store, but not all will be ideal for you. The trick is to pick an app that provides the value you need. Here's a guide for choosing a reliable weather app.
Main Things To Consider When Choosing A Weather App
Type Of Forecast
Pick an app that provides the kind of forecast that you need. For instance, if you plan to go camping, an app that provides data on humidity and precipitation will be ideal. If you're worried about an upcoming storm, work with an app that alerts you about tornados, hurricanes and hailstorms.
Some of the most common forecasting types apps provide include:
- Temperature
- Rain
- Humidity
- Cloud cover
- Snow
- Wind direction and speed
Accuracy
You wouldn't want to be caught in the rain without an umbrella. That's why you should pick an app that provides accurate data. The trick is to choose an app that sources its weather forecasting data from reputable sources.
For instance, apps that source their data from NOAA tend to be accurate. It's also wise to consider the location you're in. Weather apps that source data from multiple radar systems worldwide will be ideal if you've traveled to a new country. For example, RadarScope does a great job sourcing weather data from all over the world.
Real-Time Data And Alerts
To survive inclement weather, you need to react to weather changes quickly. That's why you should use an app that offers real-time weather data and alerts. For instance, the most reliable weather apps will provide you with hourly weather updates.
While some will also offer weekly weather forecasts, others will provide weather forecasts weeks into the future. Pick an app that offers the kind of data you need. If you're planning a camping trip in the next few weeks, look for one that provides data in advance and real-time alerts.
Ease Of Use
You'll want to choose a weather app that you can actually use. While some weather apps offer detailed weather data, they may not be as user-friendly. For instance, RadarScope offers detailed radar data that beginners might struggle to understand.
Look for an app with a more intuitive user interface unless you're a weather hobbyist or a trained meteorologist. Apps with interactive UIs and witty commentary like CARROT Weather will make it easier to understand the weather. On the other hand, apps with multiple widget options like 1Weather make accessing weather information at a glance pretty easy.
What Is The Average Cost Of A Weather App?
Weather apps are typically quite affordable. On average, you'll be paying between $2 and $10 to unlock the ad-free versions of most apps.
We've found that the cheapest weather apps are free but supported by ads. The most expensive weather app subscription we found is RadarScope's Pro Tier 2 subscription, which costs $100 annually.
How Do Weather Apps Work?
Weather forecasting begins with data and observations drawn from different sources worldwide. The data is often drawn from weather stations, radar, satellites, reports from volunteers and weather balloons that collect information about the atmosphere, such as humidity, temperature and wind speed.
This weather information is then fed into supercomputers that the United States government and other countries run. England, Japan, France, Canada and China all have their own supercomputers for forecasting weather. These supercomputers then use mathematical equations to predict the weather.
No mathematical algorithm is perfect. Since the earth is so big, some forecasting models will work better in specific parts of the world than others. The output of these computer calculations are typically maps that depict weather aspects like temperature, pressure and precipitation within a specific geographic area. The forecast you see on your weather app is usually from the output of one or multiple supercomputer algorithms.
An app's accuracy will depend on how well its organization uses the data it receives. While the US government will provide weather data to weather apps with the help of agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization, the most accurate apps don't solely rely on this data. Most reliable weather apps have invested in proprietary computer systems and weather stations to generate forecasts.
Whenever the weather changes rapidly, organizations that have made such investments typically have better luck offering more accurate and frequent updates. The accuracy of a weather app will also depend on the forecasting model that meteorologists use. While some models do a fantastic job at assessing inclement weather, like snowstorms, other forecasting models will do a great job at forecasting short-term and long-term weather conditions.
How Do You Choose The Right Weather App For You?
A weather app might meet all the requirements to be accurate but still not serve you well. For this reason, you need to look for weather apps that offer personalized forecasts for your specific situation. When picking an app for yourself, pay attention to the following.
Your Specific Location
Does the app draw data from reliable weather forecasting agencies in your location? Organizations will use different weather forecasting models for various locations. If you're using an app that doesn't use the most accurate data sources, the chances are that you won't receive accurate forecasts.
Assess the data sources of the apps you're using to increase the chances of choosing a reliable app. If you're traveling around the world, it might be wiser to choose apps that offer hyperlocal forecasts anywhere around the world.
Your Specific Needs
Your immediate needs should drive your choice of weather app. Some apps will be excellent for predicting specific weather aspects, while others may struggle to do so. If you need an app that'll predict niche weather elements like allergen presence and air quality, take your time assessing the different choices you have.
Device Compatibility
Some weather apps work best with specific device ecosystems. For instance, Dark Sky has long been considered the best weather app for Apple users, especially since Apple acquired it.
It's wise to also note that prices might also vary with the device you're using. For instance, Mac and Windows users have to pay $30 for RadarScope, while Android and iOS users pay $10.
Price And Features
Most weather apps have a free version, but you have to pay to unlock an ad-free environment. Some apps include extra features once you pay a one-time payment or subscription. The trick is to assess whether these additional features are worth paying for. For example, Weather Underground's premium version allows you to access weather forecasts 15 days into the future. If you find this valuable, paying the premium will be worth it.
Weather App FAQ
How We Found The Best Weather Apps
To come up with the best weather apps for 2023, we considered several factors, as shown below.
Features
When researching the different weather apps, we looked at features that go beyond what default apps offer on Android and iPhone devices. These include extended forecasts, alerts, radar and location tracking. We did our best to present apps with a wide variety of options to help you pick an app that serves your needs.
In addition, we looked at the different approaches weather apps use when monitoring and reporting the weather. For instance, while The Weather Channel uses easily-digestible graphs to ensure anyone can understand the app, RadarScope goes in-depth to cater to the needs of weather enthusiasts.
Pros And Cons
While weather apps have features to keep you informed of what is happening weather-wise, none of them are perfect. We looked at the benefits and drawbacks of different weather apps to help you understand what each one offers. For any app to make our list, its pros must have exceeded its cons.
Cost
We understand that you want to be informed about the weather without spending too much on it. Hence, we looked at the cost of various weather apps, so you can know where it's possible to save a buck or two.
Compatibility
Some apps may be restricted to Apple users, while others may only work with Android. We look at the compatibility of different weather apps to help you choose the best weather app for Android vs. iPhone vs. PC.
Summary Of The Best Weather Apps of 2023
Finding a reliable weather app could save your life, especially if you live in an area that experiences a lot of storms. It will help you plan around the weather forecast and avoid unwelcome surprises.
Consider your specific needs when choosing an app, from your phone's operating system to your location to any travel plans you have in the future. Regardless of the weather-related problem you're looking to solve, our list of best weather apps will have an app for you.
- Best for Weather Enthusiasts – Radarscope
- Best for Privacy – Weather Underground
- Best for Hyperlocal Rainfall Alerts – MyRadar
- Best User Interface – CARROT Weather
- Best for Multi-Language Support – AccuWeather
- Best Free Weather App – The Weather Channel
- Best for Widgets – 1Weather
- Best for iPhone – Dark Sky
