# AeroWeather Lite vs Windy.com

The clearest difference is rating: Windy.com at 4.8 against AeroWeather Lite's 3.5. Windy.com also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 54%) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AeroWeather Lite sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Windy.com sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Windy.com holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Windy.com has 79K ratings behind it against 159, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of AeroWeather Lite's written reviews are positive against 89% of Windy.com's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AeroWeather Lite | Windy.com |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (159 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aeroweather-lite/id288286079/reviews) | **[4.8 (79K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/windycom/id1161387262/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 159 | **79K** |
| Positive reviews | 53.7% of reviews | **89.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #174 | **#3** |
| Size | 81 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lakehorn AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/288286082) | [Windyty, SE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1161387261) |

## What reviewers say

### AeroWeather Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aeroweather-lite/id288286079)

**Currently charting:** #174 Top Grossing · Weather, #195 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Access current and precise weather conditions (METAR) and forecasts (TAF) for airports worldwide. View data in raw or decoded formats, with offline access and customizable alerts. Ideal for aviation professionals and weather enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** METAR and TAF weather data, Raw and decoded data formats, Offline weather data caching, Airport database with sunrise/sunset, METAR alert notifications, Customizable units and formats

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Captain (monthly) | $1.49 | per month |
| First (Yearly) | $5.49 | per year |
| Captain (Yearly) | $8.99 | per year |
| Remove Ad-Banner | $2.49 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent weather information
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔍 Helpful weather decoding
- 💻 Great for pilots and aviation enthusiasts
- 🔍 Detailed weather data

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes after updates
- 🚫 Missing data for some locations (especially outside USA)
- 💰 Subscription model for full features
- 🔍 Confusing app versions (Lite, Pro, etc.)
- 🔍 Cluttered UI after recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and data loading failures
- Saved airports disappearing after updates
- Inconsistent data refresh and update issues
- Incompatibility with certain mobile networks

**Requested features**

- Add more airports, especially in Australia and Canada
- Improve dark mode and overall UI consistency
- Restore old features like METAR history and crosswind calculation
- Provide better customer support and communication


### Windy.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/windycom/id1161387262)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Weather, #10 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

This app offers advanced weather forecasting with over 50 detailed maps and 15 weather models, including live radar, satellite imagery, and hurricane tracking. It provides customizable alerts for storms, wind, and snow, making it ideal for outdoor activities and aviation.

**Highlights:** Live weather radar & satellite, Over 50 weather maps, 15+ weather models, Hurricane tracker, Customizable weather alerts, Aviation-specific forecasts, Air quality index

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Donate 3 EUR/USD a month | $2.99 | per month |
| Windy Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Donate 6 EUR/USD a month | $5.49 | per month |
| Windy Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Donate approx 5 EUR/USD | $4.99 | one-time |
| Donate approx 10 EUR/USD | $9.99 | one-time |
| Donate approx 20 EUR/USD | $19.99 | one-time |
| Windy Premium | $29.99 | one-time |
| Donate approx 50  EUR/USD | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate weather forecasts
- 🌍 Comprehensive global coverage
- 🔍 Detailed weather data and models
- 🛥️ Useful for marine/sailing activities
- 🛫 Valuable for aviation planning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Overwhelming number of features and options
- 🔍 Small text and cluttered interface on mobile
- 🤖 Occasional app crashes or stability issues
- 💰 Paywall for some advanced features
- 🌐 Lack of offline functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Map dragging issues on newer iPhone models
- Inconsistent temperature display units
- Premium features not always working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add weather front data on isobar charts
- Improve font size and layout for better readability
- Provide option to hide webcams or certain layers
- Implement weather warning notifications
- Add support for Apple Watch and other wearables


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AeroWeather Lite free?

AeroWeather Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Windy.com free?

Windy.com is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AeroWeather Lite or Windy.com?

Windy.com is rated higher. AeroWeather Lite averages 3.5 out of 5 from 159 ratings, while Windy.com averages 4.8 from 79K ratings.

### Do AeroWeather Lite or Windy.com have ads?

AeroWeather Lite shows ads; Windy.com does not.

### Which is updated more often, AeroWeather Lite or Windy.com?

AeroWeather Lite ships an update every 3 weeks, and Windy.com every 3 weeks. Most recently, AeroWeather Lite was updated on September 24, 2026 and Windy.com on September 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, AeroWeather Lite or Windy.com?

AeroWeather Lite currently peaks at #174 in the App Store charts, and Windy.com at #3. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*