Comparison

Weather Models vs wXL23

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Weather Models

Access detailed weather maps directly from NOAA, featuring various atmospheric models. Visualize parameters like temperature, precipitation, wind, and severe weather potential.

Highlights
  • NOAA weather maps
  • GFS, WRF, NAM, HRRR models
  • Temperature maps
  • Precipitation forecasts
  • Wind speed visualization
  • Severe weather potential (thunderstorm, lightning, tornado)
  • Simulated radar
Features
Read full description

The Weather Models application provides you with maps directly from NOAA. The models currently listed in the application is the GFS, WRF, NAM & HRRR models. We have maps with various parameters such as temperatures, CAPE, thunderstorm potential, lightning potential, tornado potential, precipitation, winds, cloud cover and simulated radars.

About

wXL23

An advanced, open-source weather application focused on US weather data, optimized for storm chasers and meteorologists. It provides detailed NWS data, including radar, model outputs, and specialized products, with a focus on information depth over flashy graphics.

Highlights
  • NWS data for US locations
  • Level 3 Nexrad radar viewer
  • Optimized text product viewer
  • Mosaic viewer with animations
  • SPC, WPC, NHC product access
  • Weather models
  • Customizable home screen
Features
Read full description

For USA Weather only: wXL23 is a free, no-ads, and open-source ( GNU GPLv3 / APL2.0 ) advanced weather application that is geared towards storm chasers, meteorologists, and weather enthusiasts. NWS ( National Weather Service ) data is optimized for mobile format and provided for divisions not normally covered together in the mobile space: SPC, WPC, NHC, OPC, etc. Level 3 Nexrad radar (single, dual, quad pane). This weather app is not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service. If you *only* need current conditions and your local 7 day forecast then this app is probably more then you need although it will easily provide those 2 things as well. If you are looking for wasted screen real estate or fancy graphics this app is not for you. Given the depth of information covered there is a steep learning curve if you seek to use the program in it's entirety, help information is available and touched on below. Common weather acronyms are used throughout so you should be familiar with those as well. Currently United States locations are supported. - Current forecast, 7 day conditions, sounding data for an unlimited number of locations from NWS. - Customizable home screen - Metal based Nexrad radar interface with numerous options. 2 pane and 4 pane version also available in MISC tab. - Optimized text product viewer for easy access to AFD, HWO and others from any NWS WFO. - Vis/IR/WV/Radar mosaic viewer ( with animations ). - SPC products (such as Watches/MCDs/Convective Outlooks/Mesoanalysis) - WPC products - Weather models - NHC products NOTE: iPhone 5s or newer required for Nexrad radar viewer.

Screenshots

Weather Models3 screens
wXL233 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: wXL23 at 96% against Weather Models's 0%. wXL23 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.1) and ads (none vs shown). Weather Models's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

wXL23 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: wXL23 has 214 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Weather Models's written reviews are positive against 96% of wXL23's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Weather Models ships an update every 25 months, wXL23 every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Weather Models versus wXL23: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWeather ModelswXL23
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.1 (18 ratings)4.9 (214 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews96.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18214 — better
Update frequencyEvery 25 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developercorey hoggardJosh Green

Customer experience

Weather Models

All ratings18 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral5.6%
Negative94.4%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

wXL23

All ratings214 ratings
Positive98.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews75 reviews
Positive96.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Weather Models

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

wXL23

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • App crashes on iOS 26 and iOS 18.1.1 after updates
  • Radar animations crash app when playing frames
  • Play button malfunction on radar displays
  • App crashes on open after certain updates
  • Radar product glitching on iOS 14 and iPhone 12 Pro Max
Show 3 more
  • Current conditions loading issue at single stations
  • Radar display crashes when added to home screen
  • Models slow to load or fail to load data

Requested features

11 requests
  • Dark mode icon support for iOS
  • Bottom navigation bar with category icons
  • Widget support for home screen
  • Push notifications for SPC outlooks and mesoscale discussions
  • Personal Weather Station (PWS) integration
Show 6 more
  • Map scrolling improvements
  • Annotation feature for radar
  • Custom color code input for radar color tables
  • Additional mesoanalysis subregions (sectors 21 and 22)
  • Enhanced hourly forecast display with more data points
  • Windows 11 application version

In-app purchases

None

Weather Models

No in-app purchases

None

wXL23

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Weather Models free?
Weather Models is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is wXL23 free?
wXL23 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Weather Models or wXL23?
wXL23 is rated higher. Weather Models averages 1.1 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while wXL23 averages 4.9 from 214 ratings.
Do Weather Models or wXL23 have ads?
Weather Models shows ads; wXL23 does not.
Which is updated more often, Weather Models or wXL23?
Weather Models ships an update every 25 months, and wXL23 every 2 months. Most recently, Weather Models was updated on November 6, 2026 and wXL23 on November 6, 2026.

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