Comparison

WeatherBug vs global storms

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

global storms

Access real-time severe weather alerts, including hurricanes, typhoons, and tornadoes. View worldwide animated satellite imagery, marine data, and US radar. Track global climate and space weather phenomena.

Highlights
  • Hurricane, typhoon, and tropical storm tracking
  • Worldwide animated satellite views
  • Marine weather information
  • US tornado and thunderstorm alerts
  • Animated US radar and forecast charts
  • Global climate and space weather data
Features
Read full description

global storms provides the latest severe weather information including: - hurricanes, typhoons and tropical storms in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans - worldwide animated satellite views - the latest worldwide marine information - US ultraviolet index - US mainland storms, including the latest tornado and severe thunderstorm alerts - animated radar for the US - animated US forecast chart - global climate imagery - space weather Information in the app is courtesy of various open government sources as indicated in each section. There is an auto-renewing subscription option within the app to track worldwide tropical cyclones, typhoons, hurricanes and other global weather hazards, and comprehensive ocean conditions forecasts for the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Development of global storms is funded in part by ads, which can be removed by selecting the monthly auto-renewing subscription option "Remove Ads" from the app's settings menu. Removing ads also provides access to other premium content and features. The subscription price of 0.99 USD (in your local currency) will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and, for each renewal, within 24 hours prior to the end of the current month. You can cancel the subscription at any time through your iTunes account settings, but you must do so at least 24 hours before the end of the current month to avoid being charged, and ads will show again at the start of the subsequent month. Terms of use: https://www.kellytechnology.com/privacy/tac.html Privacy policy: https://www.kellytechnology.com/privacy/privacy_policy.html

Screenshots

WeatherBug4 screens
global storms4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: WeatherBug at 61% against global storms's 27%. WeatherBug also leads on ratings volume (2.2M vs 13K) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 global storms sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. 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 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WeatherBug has 2.2M ratings behind it against 13K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of WeatherBug's written reviews are positive against 27% of global storms's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WeatherBug ships an update every 2 weeks, global storms every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
WeatherBug versus global storms: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWeatherBugglobal storms
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.2M ratings) — better4.5 (13K ratings)
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews — better27.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2.2M — better13K
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#7 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size237 MB81 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperWeatherBugKelly Technology Inc.

Customer experience

WeatherBug

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

global storms

All ratings12,547 ratings
Positive88.1%
Neutral5.2%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews137 reviews
Positive27.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative70.1%

User reviews

WeatherBug

From 2.2M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate weather forecasts
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • ⚡️ Reliable lightning and storm tracking
  • 📍 Customizable location settings
  • 🌤️ Detailed weather information (humidity, UV, air quality)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent data updates
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 🤔 Contradictory weather information between hourly and daily forecasts
  • 🗺️ Inaccurate radar and location mapping in some areas
  • 💤 Slow app loading times

global storms

From 13K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌐 Accurate weather information
  • 📊 Useful satellite imagery and data
  • 🔍 Comprehensive hurricane tracking

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate past ads
  • ⏱️ Lengthy ads that cannot be skipped
  • 🚫 Ads blocking access to content
  • 🔋 High battery consumption due to ads

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

global storms

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Ads not closing or loading properly
  • Satellite imagery not loading consistently

Requested features

3 requests
  • Option to disable ads for a fee
  • Improved ad placement and user experience
  • Ability to save favorite locations

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
3 purchases

global storms

Subscriptions1
  • Remove Ads$0.991 Month
One-time2
  • Global Tropical Hazards$9.99
  • Ocean Conditions Forecast$9.99

Questions

Is WeatherBug free?
WeatherBug is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is global storms free?
global storms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, WeatherBug or global storms?
WeatherBug is rated higher. WeatherBug averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.2M ratings, while global storms averages 4.5 from 13K ratings.
Do WeatherBug or global storms have ads?
Both WeatherBug and global storms show ads.
Which is updated more often, WeatherBug or global storms?
WeatherBug ships an update every 2 weeks, and global storms every 3 weeks. Most recently, WeatherBug was updated on September 28, 2026 and global storms on September 28, 2026.

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