- Android weather apps at a glance
- Ten weather apps for Android
- The free alerts your phone already gets
- Forecast app, radar app or map app?
- Setting up weather alerts and widgets on Android
- Why your forecast changes through the day
- Radar, nowcasts and long-range outlooks
- My plain advice on choosing an Android weather app
- Frequently asked questions
The best weather app for Android gives you an accurate hourly forecast, a radar you can read at a glance and a widget that fits your home screen. Pick by what you check most: rain timing, storms, wind for outdoor sports or a choice of forecast sources. Ten apps follow in no particular order.
Android phones already come with a forecast somewhere, but it's rarely the one people love. Some want minute-by-minute rain timing for the school run, others want a radar that shows storms coming, and sailors want wind maps nobody else needs.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from big forecasting brands to small open source projects. Each description comes from the app's own Google Play or F-Droid listing, re-checked this week. If you like searching straight from the screen, my guide to Circle to Search on Android pairs well with a good weather widget.
Android weather apps at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own store listing or site describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many free apps carry ads or sell optional upgrades.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AccuWeather | Forecast app | Minute-by-minute rain timing | Yes |
| Breezy Weather | Open source forecast | Air quality and pollen | Yes |
| Flowx | Forecast maps | Comparing forecast models | Yes |
| MyRadar | Radar app | Watching storms move | Yes |
| Overdrop | Widget app | Beautiful home screen widgets | Yes |
| The Weather Channel | Forecast app | Severe weather coverage | Yes |
| Today Weather | Forecast app | Choosing your data source | Yes |
| Weawow | Forecast app | Comparing several providers | Yes |
| Windy.com | Forecast maps | Wind and outdoor sports | Yes |
| YoWindow | Animated forecast | A living weather scene | Yes |
Ten weather apps for Android
AccuWeather
Best for: Anyone who wants real-time alerts, radar and a forecast from a big, established weather company.
Breezy Weather
Best for: Privacy fans who want a free, open source app with forecasts, nowcasting, air quality and pollen, installed from F-Droid.
Flowx
Best for: Hikers, sailors and photographers who want to swipe through forecast maps and compare weather models on one screen.
MyRadar
Best for: Storm watchers who mainly want a fast, animated radar around their location to see what's coming.
Overdrop
Best for: Home screen tinkerers who want lots of good-looking weather widgets and themes that match their setup.
The Weather Channel
Best for: US households who want local radar, storm alerts and allergy updates from a familiar weather brand.
Today Weather
Best for: Weather geeks who like to pick the forecast data source themselves, including NOAA and other providers.
Weawow
Best for: People who like comparing several forecast providers side by side, with weather photos from around the world.
Windy.com
Best for: Sailors, paragliders, kiters and cyclists who need detailed wind and forecast maps rather than a simple daily summary.
YoWindow
Best for: Visual people who'd rather glance at a living scene that shows the weather than read numbers and icons.
The free alerts your phone already gets
The National Weather Service says Wireless Emergency Alerts are sent automatically to WEA-capable phones, with no need to download an app or subscribe, and messages can be up to 360 characters on 4G LTE networks and beyond.
What that means for you: you don't need any app here to receive the most urgent warnings, so leave emergency alerts switched on in your phone's settings. A weather app is for everything around those warnings, from planning a walk to watching a storm track across the radar.
Forecast app, radar app or map app?
Forecast apps lead with the hourly and daily outlook and usually add a radar. Radar apps open straight to an animated map, which is perfect when you're watching a band of rain. Map apps show wind, waves, pressure and cloud as layers you swipe through, the sort of detail pilots, sailors and hikers want.
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Most people need a forecast app with a decent widget. If you spend weekends outdoors, add a map app too; the two don't compete.
Setting up weather alerts and widgets on Android
- Allow precise location only while using the app if you're privacy-minded.
- Turn on rain or storm notifications for your home location.
- Add a widget with the next few hours, not just today's high.
- Save the places you travel to often, like work or family.
- Check the data source setting, if the app offers one.
- Keep your phone's own emergency alerts switched on.
Why your forecast changes through the day
Forecasts are rebuilt every few hours as new observations come in from weather stations, balloons, radar and satellites. When an app updates its rain timing at lunchtime, it isn't wrong so much as better informed. That's why a short-range view of the next few hours is usually more reliable than the outlook for next week.
Radar, nowcasts and long-range outlooks
Not every part of a forecast is equally reliable. Radar shows where rain is right now, so it's the most trustworthy view for the next hour or two. Nowcasts project that radar forward a little, which is why rain alerts can be so useful when you're about to leave the house.
Daily forecasts for the next few days are usually solid, while anything beyond a week is better treated as a trend than a promise. If an app shows a sunny icon for a day ten days away, it's telling you what's most likely, not what's certain.
That's why I'd judge an app on its short-range view first. If it gets the next few hours right where you live, it'll earn its place on your home screen.
Do you make a weather app for Android? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing an Android weather app
Pick the app whose widget you'll look at every morning. A beautiful forecast you never open is no use, while a clear widget with the next few hours of rain will save you a soaking more often than any fancy map.
If you're on the water, in the hills or in the air, add a detailed map app alongside your everyday forecast. And for more free guides like this one, browse my free resources library.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best weather app for Android?
One that matches what you check most: rain timing, radar, widgets or wind. Several good options are free to install.
Do I need a weather app for severe weather alerts?
No. The National Weather Service says Wireless Emergency Alerts reach capable phones automatically, with no app or subscription.
Which weather apps have no ads?
Some open source and premium options describe no ads on their listings. Many free apps show ads or offer an ad-free upgrade.
Why do weather apps disagree?
They use different forecast models and data sources, so their predictions for the same place can differ.
Can I get weather on my Android home screen?
Yes. Most apps here offer widgets in several sizes for your home screen.
What's the best app for wind forecasts?
A map-based app with wind layers suits sailors, paragliders and cyclists better than a simple daily forecast.
