6 Best Weather Apps for iOS

With the consistent shifts in the climate around us, accurate weather forecasts are essential, especially for planning our days. Weather apps for iOS come in handy for long road trips, vacations, hikes, and simply preparing for extreme weather conditions.

However, when you look up “best weather apps for iOS” on the App Store, the list is extensive, making it confusing to pick just one. There are generic weather apps and apps that alert you about specific calamities.

To ease your mind and help you pick the best ones, we have sorted out some of the most comprehensive and well-rounded weather apps for iOS that you can consider downloading.

Apple Weather
  • Rating: 4.8
  • Pricing: Free
  • Available on: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iPod touch

If you don’t want the extra hassle of downloading a weather app separately, Apple Weather, which is in-built into iPhones, does the job pretty well. Despite being a basic application, it surely does take care of all the weather updates you’d likely need. From the casual forecast to the temperature fluctuations in the upcoming weeks, you get to be informed about them all.

One of the highlights of this application is that it acquired Dark Sky. The app’s readings and updates are now more accurate, especially for severe precipitation and other weather alerts. On this app, you can also keep up with the humidity levels, air quality, etc..

Pros
  • Pre-installed
  • Clean interface
  • Reliable for basic weather information

Cons
  • Less detailed data
  • Radar maps aren’t customisable

2. The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel
  • Rating: 4.7
  • Pricing: Free (ad-supported) | $4.99/month
  • Available on: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iPod touch

The Weather Channel and its efficiency and accuracy don’t require any introduction. Tagged as the “World’s Most Accurate Forecaster”, this app provides hourly or 24-hour updates, which you can also personalize according to your needs. The app takes care of everything from skin health to the air quality index.

If you are planning a vacation or road trip in the future, the app also offers 15-day forecasts, which you can set up in advance. This allows you to plan trips ahead of time without any setbacks. The app’s 15-minute forecast allows you to check whether it will rain in your area in the next 7 hours, which is quite amazing. The app also has a smart widget feature, which allows you to keep up with the weather right from your device's home screen.

If you're setting up a home weather station, don’t forget to include a rain gauge. Learn how to use one properly here.

Pros
  • Hourly, daily, and 15-day forecasts
  • Real-time radar
  • Health-focused reports

Cons
  • Ads are disruptive at times
  • Requires installation and setup


3. AccuWeather

AccuWeather
  • Rating: 4.6
  • Pricing: Free | Has Premium Plans
  • Available on: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iPod touch

If you aren’t in the mood to pay for a weather app on your iOS device, consider installing AccuWeather. It has been around for decades and is renowned for its simple, accurate, and very detailed weather reports, which make planning your life a lot easier.

The highlight of this app is the live weather forecast feature, including their MinuteCast® forecasts for Minute by Minute® precipitation updates, which are especially amazing for individuals who live in rain-prone areas. The app also has the exclusive WinterCast™ feature, updating you on the winter weather forecasts. Thanks to the advanced weather radar, you can also track the possibility of rain, storms, hail, tornadoes, and other calamities possibly coming your way.

One of the most unique features of this app is the RealFeel® & RealFeel Shade Temperature™ technology, which allows you to “feel” how the weather around you is. You can also track 5-day precipitation output, adding to the app's highlights.

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Pros
  • Minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts
  • RealFeel temperature index
  • Radar and satellite imagery

Cons
  • Ads can pop up inconveniently
  • The interface is a bit cluttered

4. Carrot Weather

Carrot Weather
  • Rating: 4.7
  • Pricing: Free | Has Premium Plans
  • Available on: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

Don’t get deterred by the name, thinking it is a parody weather app, because it's not. Carrot Weather combines snarky AI commentary with accurate weather data. It's a favorite for those who enjoy a bit of humor with their forecasts.

The highlight of this app is its customizable user interface. The app also collects data from multiple sources, such as Apple, AccuWeather, Dark Sky, etc., meaning that you won’t have to worry about accuracy.

Some of this app's highlights include hyperlocal forecasts, customizable data sources, detailed hourly and daily forecasts, radar maps with various layers, severe weather alerts, customizable widgets, an Apple Watch app, secret locations, and an augmented reality mode.

Pros
  • Highly customizable
  • Accurate data representation
  • Unique and funny weather descriptions
Cons
  • Subscription-based after a free trial

5. Weather Underground

Weather Underground
  • Rating: 3.9
  • Pricing: Free | Has Premium Plans
  • Available on: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

Although quite an underdog, Weather Underground is another free and affordable weather app for iOS that you won’t regret installing. The app has been acquired by the Weather Channel, which means you won’t have to worry about the data updates and accuracy.

The best thing about this app is that it combines real-time weather data from 250,000+ weather stations to provide the most accurate and real-time updates. The forecast model on the app is also commendable. If you live somewhere prone to natural disasters, the app provides instant alerts with the accurate position of the storm so you can plan your evacuation accordingly.

You also get to stay updated about the local weather conditions on an hourly and daily basis, making the app's usability worth the time. The app also lets you stay updated about other geographical weather data, such as the air quality index, UV index, local flu outbreaks, etc.

Pros
  • Hyperlocal forecasts
  • Interactive radar, satellite, and heat maps
  • Customizable alerts
Cons
  • UI is a little complicated

6. Windy.com

Windy.com
  • Rating: 4.8
  • Pricing: Free | Has Premium Plans
  • Available on: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

Windy.com is one of those weather apps that doesn’t require an introduction, especially if you want a comprehensive and one-stop app that will take care of all your weather update needs.

The app is a robust and highly detailed weather app primarily focused on wind visualization. It's popular among sailors, surfers, pilots, and anyone interested in detailed wind patterns. Right on the app, you can also keep yourself updated about rain, thunder, storms, precipitation type, CAPE-index.

Global wind maps with detailed animations, forecasts for wind, rain, temperature, waves, and more, over 40 different weather layers, live weather stations, and customizable alerts are reasons why the app has gained so much traction.

Pros
  • Exceptional wind visualization
  • Highly detailed data
  • Numerous weather layers
Cons
  • The interface is quite clunky
  • Less focused on traditional forecasts


Comparative Table of Best Weather Apps for Android (2025)

For a brief overview of all the weather apps for Android, refer to the table we have sorted out for you below:

App Name

Free Version

Unique Features

USP

Best For

Apple Weather

Yes

Seamless iOS integration, Dark Sky data

Native, accurate

Casual users

The Weather Channel

Yes

Health risks, radar, 15-day forecasts

Trusted, global reach

Everyday use

AccuWeather

Yes

RealFeel, MinuteCast

Hyperlocal forecast

Commute, daily planning

Carrot Weather

Yes

Humor, customization, secret missions

Entertaining with depth

Weather + fun

Weather Underground

Yes

Personal weather stations, crowd-sourced

Hyperlocal, detailed

Enthusiasts, data lovers

Windy.com

Yes

Global forecast models, wind & wave maps

Advanced visualization

Aviation, marine, sports

Final Words

The App Store is filled with numerous different weather apps, which are perfect for keeping yourself updated about the local weather and forecasts. From the simplicity of the built-in Apple Weather app to the humor of Carrot Weather and the detailed visualizations of Windy.com, there's an app to suit every need. So, when choosing one weather app, consider checking out the individual features for your perusal and decide on the one that best suits your needs.

Published: April 18, 2025

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