I’m still mad at Apple because the company absorbed my favorite weather app (RIP, Dark Sky) and watered down its awesomeness. The default Apple Weather app just doesn’t cut it.
Here’s an updated list of the best weather apps for 2026, divided up by personality types. All of these have free versions. If you’re like me, you may realize that you want several of these apps to get everything you want in weather-related updates.
Note: Weather apps are notorious for using your location data for targeted advertising and more. Check your settings before you install.
Quick Links
For The Traditionalist: The Weather Channel and AccuWeather
You can’t get much more traditional than a weather platform with the URL of weather.com.
Both The Weather Channel and AccuWeather have top-notch forecasts with radar views and detailed breakdowns of the forecast hour by hour. If you can deal with all the ads, the free versions work just fine. I love the weather summaries that tell me what to expect for day and night.
Turns out I *can’t* deal with all the ads on The Weather Channel, so I’m going to give AccuWeather a try. But both are much better than Apple’s Weather app.
For the Independent Thinker: MyRadar
Tired of forecasters who spoon feed you their own interpretation of what’s coming? MyRadar is for you. It’s a beautiful app with real-time radar visualizations without the weather forecast summaries. You can watch what’s coming up and draw your own conclusions.
It’s a nice secondary reference for those of us who like the spoon feeding as well.
For the Caretaker Worry Wart: Emergency: Severe Weather App
The American Red Cross has several awesome apps that are free and incredibly helpful. Emergency: Severe Weather App helps you prepare for natural disaster emergencies, track natural disaster emergencies and find shelter and help after natural disaster emergencies.
It’s a great way to keep an eye on what’s coming your way or what’s headed toward friends and family.
For the Animal Lover: Weather Puppy (and Weather Kitty and Weather Wildlife…)
Say it with me… awwww! A company called Weather Creative offers a portfolio of weather-related cuteness. You get a daily forecast with a touch of adorable. Animal non-profits and charities have partnered with these founders to showcase shelter pets and other animals in need of help.
For the Artistic Types: Yahoo Weather
When you open the beautiful Yahoo Weather app, you’re greeted with an exquisite Flickr photo of the area around you. You have the regular features you need in a weather app… daily forecasts, weekly forecasts and the occasional ad.
For the Sarcastic Smart-Aleck: Carrot Weather
I don’t know… I’ve always thought all the Carrot apps were just too mean to enjoy — I mean, the workout version calls itself “your judgemental fitness overlord.” But the Carrot Weather app lets you choose your level of sass, from straightlaced to foul-mouthed. It’s won plenty of awards, and it swears it doesn’t sell your data.
For the (iPhone-Owning) Road Warrior: Weather on the Way
I hate to include apps that are only available on one platform. Sorry, Android friends. But I’m a road warrior myself, so I couldn’t resist.
Weather on the Way helps you navigate a road trip when storms are a-brewin’. It’ll tell you weather along the route and guide you on the best time to leave and what to expect along the way.
Thanks for this timely post. Just downloaded Weather on the Way because a family member is visiting Florida and returning to Minnesota Monday. The free version doesn’t provide most of the detail described. So a 7-day free trial might be an option for the occasional traveler. Or the $4.99 monthly subscription. Just need to remember to cancel either of those before the trial period ends. Otherwise, it looks like a great app for only $20 a year if you travel frequently by vehicle.
Let me know how it works for you!
Ooh – weather on the way! Will check it out – should be helpful during my (albeit infrequent) road warrior episodes.
Beth, you have once again brought me something I didn’t even know I needed. I have been having waaaay too much fun sending screen shots of What the Forecast to the contacts in my phone.
I like Weather Bub. I love that cat. So cute.
There is also Weather Kitty for the feline lovers of the world. I’ve been saying “awwww” to that one for a couple of years now :).
I like Dark Sky but Today Weather is still my favorite!