Best Site for Weather
Summary
The best weather site depends on what you need. Windy.com is the underrated visualization leader with multiple forecast models overlaid on interactive maps. weather.gov is the free authoritative source for US weather backed by the National Weather Service. Apple Weather has improved significantly after the Dark Sky acquisition was integrated. AccuWeather has the broadest distribution but faced significant data-sale controversies in 2017-2020 that affected user trust. Carrot Weather is the polished personality-driven app. Most listicles default to AccuWeather without flagging the data-handling history.
Top 5 at a glance
| # | Site | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Windy.com | Interactive weather visualization with multiple forecast models | Free with paid Premium for additional features |
| 2 | weather.gov (National Weather Service) | Authoritative US weather from the National Weather Service | Free |
| 3 | Apple Weather | Polished iOS consumer weather with Dark Sky integration | Free with Apple devices |
| 4 | Carrot Weather | Polished personality-driven iOS weather app | Subscription pricing with one-time purchase option historically |
| 5 | AccuWeather | Broadest distribution including international | Free with ads; paid Premium |
Detailed rankings
Windy.com
Interactive weather visualization with multiple forecast models
The default for users who want to understand weather rather than just check a daily forecast. The model comparison alone provides better forecasts than single-source apps.
Pros
- Interactive map visualization across many weather variables
- Multiple forecast models overlay (ECMWF, GFS, ICON, others)
- Free for most casual use
- Particularly strong for sailors, pilots, and outdoor activities
Cons
- Learning curve to understand the visualization options
- Premium needed for advanced features
- Less suited for quick 'what's the weather tomorrow' lookups
Price: Free with paid Premium for additional features
Sources: www.windy.com
weather.gov (National Weather Service)
Authoritative US weather from the National Weather Service
The right pick for US users who want authoritative weather without consumer-app layers. The official source for severe weather warnings.
Pros
- Authoritative source for US weather forecasts and warnings
- Free with no ads or signup
- Public domain data that other weather services build upon
- Severe weather alerts are the official source
Cons
- Interface utilitarian compared to consumer apps
- US only
- Less polished for casual daily-weather use
Price: Free
Sources: www.weather.gov
Apple Weather
Polished iOS consumer weather with Dark Sky integration
The right pick for iOS users. The Dark Sky-derived precipitation forecasts remain among the best in the category.
Pros
- Significantly improved after Dark Sky acquisition integration
- Hyperlocal precipitation predictions inherited from Dark Sky
- Tight Apple ecosystem integration
- Free with no ads
Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Dark Sky shut down at end of 2022 — Apple Weather inherited the data but Dark Sky branding gone
- Less customizable than dedicated weather apps
Price: Free with Apple devices
Sources: www.apple.com
Carrot Weather
Polished personality-driven iOS weather app
The right pick for iOS users who want customization and personality. Cost matters less than for casual users.
Pros
- Multiple forecast data sources selectable by user
- Personality-driven interface with adjustable tone
- Apple Watch and complication support strong
- Customizable layouts and data displayed
Cons
- iOS focus — Android version less developed
- Subscription pricing has crept
- Personality interface not for everyone
Price: Subscription pricing with one-time purchase option historically
Sources: www.meetcarrot.com
AccuWeather
Broadest distribution including international
Functional with broad coverage. The data-selling history is worth knowing — for privacy-sensitive users, weather.gov plus Windy provides similar functionality without the data-handling concerns.
Pros
- Broad international coverage
- MinuteCast hyperlocal precipitation prediction
- Available across many platforms
- Mobile app polished
Cons
- Faced significant controversies 2017-2020 over selling user location data — addressed but user trust took damage
- Ad-heavy free experience
- Marketing-aggressive pricing
- Less authoritative than weather.gov for US users
Price: Free with ads; paid Premium
Sources: www.accuweather.com
How we chose
- Forecast accuracy from independent comparisons.
- Model transparency — does the source disclose which weather model it uses?
- Privacy of location data.
- Visualization quality for understanding weather patterns.
- Severe-weather alert quality.
- Free versus paid for serious use.
Frequently asked questions
Why are weather apps different in accuracy?
Most weather apps source data from a few underlying models — ECMWF (European), GFS (US), ICON (German), and a few others. Differences in apps come from which models they prioritize, how they post-process forecasts, and how they present them. Windy.com lets you see the underlying models directly.
What was the AccuWeather data-sale controversy?
In 2017-2018 AccuWeather's iOS app was found to be selling user location data even when location services were technically restricted. The company addressed the issue and changed practices. The episode raised concerns about how weather apps handle location data, which is intrinsically sensitive. Privacy-focused users have largely migrated to alternatives since.
Should I pay for a weather app?
For severe-weather use cases (sailing, aviation, mountaineering), yes — better data justifies the cost. For daily forecast checking, free options including Apple Weather (iOS), Google Weather (Android), and weather.gov (US) are sufficient. The free options have closed most of the quality gap that paid services historically had.
What about Dark Sky?
Apple acquired Dark Sky in 2020 and shut down the standalone app at the end of 2022. Dark Sky's hyperlocal precipitation prediction was integrated into Apple Weather. The Dark Sky API was discontinued for non-Apple developers. Apple Weather inherited the core capability.
Are there free authoritative weather sources outside the US?
Yes. UK Met Office, Environment Canada, German DWD, and many other countries operate free official weather services equivalent to the US National Weather Service. International users should check their national service first.