Comparison

WeatherBug vs NOAA Radar US

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

Head to head
About

WeatherBug

Get accurate, real-time weather forecasts and severe storm alerts powered by a global professional weather network. Visualize conditions with interactive maps, track lightning, and stay informed about pollen, air quality, and more.

Highlights
  • Real-Time Pinpoint Forecasts
  • Enhanced Interactive Map
  • Severe Weather Alerts
  • Lightning Proximity Alerts
  • Pollen Count
  • Air Quality Information
Features
Read full description

Download the most popular free weather app powered by the largest professional weather network in the world! Enjoy Free access to 10-Day Forecast and over 140 hours of Hourly Forecast, and explore our Ad-Free Subscription options. WeatherBug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm warnings to pollen levels. Our weather network delivers the fastest alerts and the best real-time forecasts (current, hourly, and 10-day). WeatherBug has over 20 weather maps, including Radar, Future Radar, Lightning, Pollen, Severe Storm Risk, Precipitation, and more! Join the millions who rely on WeatherBug for weather forecasts every day! "I love WeatherBug! It's always accurate & is the first place I go for up-to-the-minute weather!" –iOS User. WEATHERBUG FEATURES: YOUR WEATHER FORECAST • Real-Time Pinpoint Forecasts: Get the most accurate current, hourly, and 10-day weather forecasts • Enhanced Interactive Map: Visualize weather conditions with 19 weather maps • Lifestyle Forecasts: Know how the weather will impact your trips, workouts, allergies, chronic pain and much more • Weather Widget: Customize your alerts and display them with weather widgets • Weather Alerts: get alerted to weather conditions and storms • Weather Videos: Watch short weather videos with severe weather updates, live forecasts, storm alerts, and safety tips to better understand what’s happening and what to expect next TRACK ANY CONDITION • Weather Radar: available across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe • PulseRad® Radar: radar for many international locations using patented Earth Networks Total Lightning Network® technology • Spark Lightning Alerts: get minute-by-minute, mile-by-mile lightning proximity alerts • Hurricane Center: hurricane forecasts and changing conditions stay informed • Fire Center: global fire data to know when you are at risk • Winter Weather: Plan with our 10-day snow depth forecast and stay safe in severe winter conditions with our real-time snowstorm alerts MORE THAN JUST RAIN • Pollen Count: Keep your allergies in check by knowing what the local pollen conditions are like • Live Traffic Cameras: View local traffic conditions to better plan your day • Real-Time Traffic Conditions: View local traffic conditions to better plan your day • Air Quality: Get an in-depth look at the air quality around you • Precise Weather Details: Wind speed, UV index, weather observations and more LARGEST WEATHER NETWORK • Forecasts for 2.6 million+ locations worldwide • Largest total lightning detection network FASTEST WEATHER ALERTS • Get notified of severe weather 50% faster with our Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts • Receive all NWS and NOAA watches and warnings APPLE WATCH SUPPORT • Get vital weather information directly on your Apple Watch, including alerts, glances, and complications CONNECT WITH US • Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WeatherBug • Follow us on Twitter - @WeatherBug • Check us out on Instagram - @weatherbug • Check out WeatherBug's YouTube weather channel broadcast here: https://www.youtube.com/user/WeatherBugVideo Download the weather forecast app used and loved by millions, awarded the "Best Weather App" in 2019 and 2016 by Mediapost Appy Awards. Also, voted the "Best Weather App for iPads" by AppPicker and "Best App for Moms" by Parent Magazine: WeatherBug! This app may include "Interest-Based Ads" (see https://www.weatherbug.com/legal/privacy#AC) for more information) and may collect or share "Precise Location Data" (see https://www.weatherbug.com/legal/privacy#PLD for more details).

About

NOAA Radar US

Track weather conditions and changes with detailed forecasts and real-time radar. Get accurate predictions, severe weather warnings, and monitor hazards like hurricanes and tornadoes on a map. Essential for planning trips or daily activities.

Highlights
  • Weather radar for multiple locations
  • Tropical cyclone tracking
  • Air Quality map
  • Precipitation forecast
  • Daily and weekly weather forecasts
  • Wind speed and statistics
  • Humidity, pressure, and visibility data
Features
Read full description

Take care of your safety: track weather conditions and weather changes with our app. Look through which weather conditions are expected daily, and view the forecast for all week. Get the most accurate weather forecasts, warnings such as impending tornadoes, hurricanes or severe thunderstorms. You can track the distance to a potential hazard using the map. Track the changes of weather conditions, wind speed, the possibility of bad weather - it becomes relevant for you if you are, for example, planning a trip, outdoor recreation or you are dependent on weather conditions for your daily basis. Wind, rain, temperature, atmospheric pressure - all this information can be taken in our app. Main features: - Weather radar for a lot of locations - Tropical cyclones on the map * - Air Quality map * - Precipitation map provides precipitation forecast - View weather forecasts and temperature for your current location - Humidity, pressure & visibility - Wind report and statistics * Some features may require premium subscription. For suggestions or feedback don’t hesitate to email us at support@hurricane.app The app is free to download and use, but we also offer optional subscriptions. We offer an annual auto-renewable subscription with a free trial. The prices may vary per country and are subject to change without notice. Prices are clearly displayed in the app. Premium subscription: - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the period - Length of subscription: one month, one year - Price of subscription: $19.99 USD per year (prices may vary per country) - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Terms of Use: https://www.hurricane.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.hurricane.app/privacy

Screenshots

WeatherBug4 screens
NOAA Radar US4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: NOAA Radar US at none against WeatherBug's shown. NOAA Radar US also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 61%). WeatherBug's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (2.2M vs 43). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. WeatherBug sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and NOAA Radar US sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WeatherBug holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WeatherBug has 2.2M ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of WeatherBug's written reviews are positive against 92% of NOAA Radar US's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WeatherBug ships an update every 2 weeks, NOAA Radar US every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
WeatherBug versus NOAA Radar US: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWeatherBugNOAA Radar US
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.2M ratings) — better4.4 (43 ratings)
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews91.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.2M — better43
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#5 — better#185
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size237 MB252 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperWeatherBugDPM APPS LP

Customer experience

WeatherBug

All ratings2,182,741 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral2.1%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews3,012 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral9.7%
Negative29.3%

NOAA Radar US

All ratings43 ratings
Positive83.7%
Neutral7.0%
Negative9.3%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

WeatherBug

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on startup
  • Widget functionality issues
  • Incorrect location and weather data for some areas

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved radar and storm tracking coverage
  • Ability to disable unnecessary notifications
  • More accurate and up-to-date weather data
  • Metric unit support for international users

NOAA Radar US

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

WeatherBug

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Ad Free Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Annual Ad Free Subscription7 Days trial$10.991 Year
  • Ad Free Subscription Holiday Promo$10.991 Year
10 purchases

NOAA Radar US

Subscriptions10
  • Premium3 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Premium3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Premium3 Days trial$3.997 Days
Show 7 more
  • Premium3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Premium3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Premium3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium$19.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Premium$29.991 Year

Questions

Is WeatherBug free?
WeatherBug is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NOAA Radar US free?
NOAA Radar US is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, WeatherBug or NOAA Radar US?
WeatherBug is rated higher. WeatherBug averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.2M ratings, while NOAA Radar US averages 4.4 from 43 ratings.
Do WeatherBug or NOAA Radar US have ads?
WeatherBug shows ads; NOAA Radar US does not.
Which is updated more often, WeatherBug or NOAA Radar US?
WeatherBug ships an update every 2 weeks, and NOAA Radar US every 3 weeks. Most recently, WeatherBug was updated on September 24, 2026 and NOAA Radar US on September 23, 2026.
Which is more popular, WeatherBug or NOAA Radar US?
WeatherBug currently peaks at #5 in the App Store charts, and NOAA Radar US at #185. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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