In a world with about 10,000 weather apps — that’s an actual estimate, not a huge exaggeration — how do you choose the best free weather app for iPhone or iPad that you can trust and that includes the features you want most? It’s not easy. But a mix of full-featured free weather apps (most with premium versions) and specialty apps can cover all the bases for you.
We’ll go over some of the best weather apps below, whether you just want to avoid getting wet or if you’re a total weather freak who can’t get enough data, visual or otherwise.
Best free weather apps for iPhone and iPad
1. Best free weather app with no ads: Apple Weather (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch: Free)
Apple’s Weather app is the best free app with no ads. Because Apple’s Weather app for iPhone and iPad is a free weather app with no ads, we think it’s the best weather app overall. One of the main reasons it’s great is it incorporates many of the features from the beloved Dark Sky app, which Apple acquired in 2020.
One of the best features is how the app’s look changes with the weather while the underlying detail remains comprehensive. And Apple’s Weather app is a good choice if you prefer apps that don’t share your personal data.
You can peruse forecasts by the hour for up to 10 days (note: with forecasts, expect decreasing accuracy over time in any app). The app covers all the most important weather aspects, including temperature, wind, humidity, dew point, feels-like temperature, UV index, barometric pressure and visibility. It also offers severe weather alerts and surfaces weather news.
It also includes radar maps showing upcoming precipitation and temperature for the next 12 hours, wind for the next 24 hours, and air quality information. Plus, as the app is included with Apple devices, it’s familiar, and you’ll see the same weather presentations across your devices.
Note: This is also the only entirely free major weather app listed here besides Fox Weather, with no paid version setting apart premium features.
Hot alternatives:
- Fox Weather features a 3D radar view and links to a constant stream of weather news. And like Apple Weather, it’s completely free.
- AccuWeather shows precipitation minute-by-minute for the next 4 hours and offers proprietary RealFeel and RealFeel Shade Temperature readings. Free and premium versions available.
2. Best weather app for iPhone: Weather Underground (Wunderground) (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch: Free)
Weather Underground, also known as Wunderground, is the best weather app for iPhone because it has the most interactive weather maps on mobile devices.
The app puts 250,000 weather stations and their data at your fingertips. It once functioned more as a crowd-sourced weather resource, but now owned by The Weather Company (under Francisco Partners since 2024), it’s a good source for smart forecasting, with its proprietary forecast model, as well as well-rounded data like air-quality reports and even flu outbreaks.
The ability to choose different weather stations is especially useful if you live somewhere with microclimates, like a coastal area or a mountainous region. You can often find one or more stations in your town and switch to other stations nearby to see how different the weather can be.
One caveat: Given that many of these stations are private, you may notice oddities. I found one near where I lived recently that rarely agreed about wind speed with stations just blocks away. That station was probably set up in a place where the wind was blocked.
But another plus is this app is good for privacy, with easy opt-outs.
Hot alternatives:
- WeatherBug shows how far you are from lightning strikes in the past 30 minutes, an Outdoor Sports Index rates how good the weather is for activities and much more. This app is free.
- Windy.com’s pretty weather maps pack in 50 layers of data and other tools for the weather freak. Free and premium versions.
3. Most accurate weather app: Carrot Weather (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch: Free)
Funnily enough, the snarkiest weather app is also the most accurate weather app. Carrot Weather is known for its “hilariously twisted forecasts,” which deliver the weather with plenty of attitude.
But by default, Carrot’s forecasts are powered by Foreca, one of the world’s most accurate weather services. Foreca purchases high-quality weather data from a wide range of government and private weather services, combining them into a model that the company claims consistently beats other forecasters.
The award-winning app offers current, hourly and seven-day forecasts. They are delivered in five different personalities, from the “straitlaced ‘professional’ to the profanity-laden ‘overkill.’”
Recent improvements include a redesigned look for data surfaced on Apple Watch, Personal Voice use, new languages and some premium features like next-hour radar and new widgets for iPhone’s Standby Mode display and iPad’s Lock Screen. Also, Carrot tends to get high marks for not sharing personal data.
Hot alternatives:
- What the Forecast?!! can be even snarkier and sillier at times than Carrot Weather. Free and premium versions.
- Not Boring Weather — a beautifully designed minimalist weather app.
