# WeatherMax+ vs Backyard Weather

The clearest difference is rating: Backyard Weather at 5.0 against WeatherMax+'s 4.5. WeatherMax+'s advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WeatherMax+ sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Backyard Weather sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Backyard Weather holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 2 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WeatherMax+ | Backyard Weather |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weathermax-plus/id547809867/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-weather-pws/id6759879178/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 16 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Chris Williams](https://appshunter.io/developer/1463315039) | [Samuel Albrecht](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801053552) |

## What reviewers say

### WeatherMax+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weathermax-plus/id547809867)

Get precise, hyperlocal weather forecasts powered by the National Weather Service. Receive instant severe weather alerts, view detailed conditions, and plan your day with a beautiful, animated interface. Track multiple locations and access interactive radar maps.

**Highlights:** Hyperlocal grid-point forecasts, Severe weather push alerts, Animated weather backgrounds, Minute-by-minute precipitation radar, Interactive radar map, Air quality and pollen index, Multiple location support

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WeatherMax+ Essential Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| WeatherMax+ Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| WeatherMax+ Essential Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| WeatherMax+ Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


### Backyard Weather

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-weather-pws/id6759879178)

Monitor personal weather stations, aviation weather, and coastal conditions. View current readings, historical charts for up to 11 metrics, and customize units. Offers widgets and a watch app for convenient access to weather data.

**Highlights:** Personal weather station monitoring, Aviation weather (METAR), Coastal conditions (NOAA tides), Current conditions and historical charts, Customizable units and display, Widgets and watch app support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Backyard Weather Pro | $14.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WeatherMax+ free?

WeatherMax+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Backyard Weather free?

Backyard Weather is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, WeatherMax+ or Backyard Weather?

Backyard Weather is rated higher. WeatherMax+ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Backyard Weather averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do WeatherMax+ or Backyard Weather have ads?

Neither WeatherMax+ nor Backyard Weather shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, WeatherMax+ or Backyard Weather?

WeatherMax+ ships an update every 3 weeks, and Backyard Weather every 3 weeks. Most recently, WeatherMax+ was updated on October 23, 2026 and Backyard Weather on October 24, 2026.

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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.*