The best maps and navigation apps are moderately fine for forecasting upcoming weather events. But, sometimes, you need some extra assurance, and that's where dedicated weather apps come in handy. Even though the Google Weather app is available on the latest Android tablets and phones, the service can sometimes be temperamental and limited. Hence, it pays to have a few detailed alternatives, especially since Dark Sky retired in 2023 and was replaced by Apple Weather. If you want to stay dry or avoid the summer heat, look at our roundup of great weather apps designed to keep your eyes on the skies and give you the most accurate weather readings while on the go.

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1 \NOAA Weather & Tides

The most trusted national weather service app

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $3.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (Google Play Pass)

Smartwatch support

✅ Yes

Date of release

Mar 21, 2012

The NOAA Weather & Tides app uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), one of the most trusted weather sources. The NOAA app may not look the best, but it has a lot of useful data, including precipitation and altitude for every square corner of the map.

The app accurately depicts the current weather conditions, summaries for the next couple of days, hourly forecasts, and an interactive map. This map has several layers and layouts showing the data you want. It also lets you track the weather for multiple locations, and you can set favorites to swap between them on the fly. A widget is included for quick views on the go.

2 Today Weather

Personalized weather information at your fingertips

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $0.99 - $9.49

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

❌ No

Date of release

Mar 28, 2017

Today Weather is one of the most popular apps with Android Police readers, and for a good reason. The app's sleek and simple interface makes it easy to use. Weather service data is easily viewed on one scrolling screen. It has information such as the current temperature, air quality index, and more. The app lets you choose from 12 data sources, including Accuweather and Xiaomi, and each source has slightly different data and verbiage. There are also 23 customizable widgets, so you'll see the exact data you need on your home screen. The Today app is free but has a few premium features, including additional data sources, advanced alerts, and more map layers.

3 MyRadar

The most impressive live weather radar

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $2.99 - $24.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

✅ Yes

Date of release

Jan 24, 2012

MyRadar is one of the top choices for weather apps for Apple Watch users. The app takes a different approach when displaying the weather by making the radar feature the focal point. The main screen is a radar map with current conditions and weather forecasts for the next few hours and days. At the bottom of the screen, you'll find selectable layers to enhance your experience and provide the exact insights you're looking for. Adding too many layers makes the interface look cluttered, and modifying the data is not the most intuitive, but the animations on this app are smooth.

MyRadar allows you to explore Mars and the stars using a digital model and photos. It also has a game called Star Citizen. A premium version of the app gets rid of ads and has a larger map. You can purchase additional add-ons, such as a hurricane tracker, for a fee.

4 Overdrop

Viewing weather data in style

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $1.89 - $18.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

❌ No

Date of release

Dec 25, 2018

Overdrop is a newer weather app that earned an Editor's Choice award on the Play Store. There are a few things to like about this app. First is the playful yet simple interface, which is customizable through several themes. Another is the vast number of widgets. There are more than 60 widgets that have a variety of aesthetics and data to fit any home screen. You can also choose from three data sources for your weather data, including WeatherKit, the successor to Dark Sky's API.

In addition to the customizable themes and widgets, you can customize the persistent notification to show the data you want in the way you want. The app is free with some ads, and a paid pro tier is available. The pro tier adds weather sources, access to more widgets, themes, a radar, and more. It also gets rid of ads.

5 Windy.com

Best app for real-time updates

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $1.49 - $114.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

✅ Yes

Date of release

Feb 14, 2016

Windy.com is for those who want as much weather data as possible. Windy has some great information displayed in a neat way, but it's not the most intuitive app. It has several weather models and shows data on a high-resolution satellite and Doppler composite map. It has unique information like snow depth, wind gusts, wind accumulation, and more. It also has wave, swell, and tide forecasting for those who live near the ocean. Some features and data are part of the premium version, but if you know what you're doing, you can get a lot out of the free version of Windy.

6 Windfinder: Wind & Weather map

Accurately detects severe weather patterns

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $0.99 - $9.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

❌ No

Date of release

Jun 15, 2010

Windfinder: Wind & Weather map is a practical app for detecting severe weather for outdoor activities, specifying its usefulness to fishermen, surfers, sailors, and other seafaring practices. Keep track of the tides with real-time and local forecasts and wind speed readings in your preferred unit of measurement. Enjoy advance notifications regarding weather warnings and climate events, like thunderstorms that could affect your business.

The interface is developed for easy access while on the job, accommodating wet hands with convenient sensitivity. If you're looking for a trustworthy app to watch your back with accurate forecasts while you sail, Windfinder: Wind & Weather map is a solid option.

7 The Weather Channel

All-in-one weather event tracker

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $0.99 - $29.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

❌ No

Date of release

Dec 5, 2018

The Weather Channel informs you about climate goings-on in your area, including storm warnings, hourly updates, and weather forecasts 15 days in advance. Multiple radars allow you to track rain and snow storms, which are viewable from a home screen widget. All this information can be accessed from a single detailed menu compiled for maximum convenience.

The Weather Channel has reliable features for tracking your local weather, especially if you want to plan ahead. The downside of using the app is that it is riddled with ads unless you unlock the ad-free or Pro version of the Weather Channel app.

8 Weather data & microclimate

Best weather app for hyperlocal forecasts

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $1.99 - $19.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

❌ No

Date of release

Dec 19, 2011

Weather data & microclimate is a great app for local weather prediction. It provides a detailed radar display of weather data gathered from sources in your area for added accuracy. The app also denotes wind strength, temperature, humidity, and air pressure in your location. Weather data & microclimate is great for being sure of weather conditions where you live.

9 Weather Radar by WeatherBug

Great international forecast app for traveling

In-app purchases

✅ Yes $1.99 - $399.99

Subscription

✅ Yes (In-app)

Smartwatch support

❌ No

Date of release

Nov 2008

Weather Radar by WeatherBug has become a must-have app for keen travelers. It provides weather information (pulled from over 10,000 weather stations) for over 90 countries and accurately portrays weather conditions you may encounter, including snowfall while traversing Canada. You can also set up in-app notifications for severe weather alerts. The app includes a Hurricane Center, so you can avoid a severe weather event when needed. The Weather Radar by WeatherBug app features weather service essentials such as hourly forecasts, 10-day forecasts, and traffic/satellite maps.

The only downside of the Weather Radar by WeatherBug app is that changing your location can be finicky. Emptying the app cache helps overcome this issue. The app also includes ads that you can remove with a fee.

Getting the forecast is a breeze with the best weather apps on Android and iOS

The weather impacts your life, so paying attention to some of the best weather apps on the Play Store and App Store can improve your quality of life. It's always better to be cautious and check the facts on your trusty smartwatch before setting off.

Do you require an easy-to-read display of the weather information? Set up some eye-catching widgets on your device's home screen to keep tabs on the daily forecast. But, when accounting for the hourly forecast, these mobile apps are never 100% accurate compared to a local meteorologist's readings.