# WillyWeather vs AlphaCast

The clearest difference is ads: AlphaCast at none against WillyWeather's shown. AlphaCast also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 73%) and update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). WillyWeather's advantage is ratings volume (23K vs 11) and chart position (#151 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WillyWeather sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.00 per month and AlphaCast sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AlphaCast holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WillyWeather has 23K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of WillyWeather's written reviews are positive against 100% of AlphaCast's.

WillyWeather ships an update monthly, AlphaCast every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WillyWeather | AlphaCast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/willyweather/id592978502/reviews) | **[5.0 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphacast/id6752629975/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **23K** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#151** | — |
| Size | 141 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WillyWeather (AU) Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/592978505) | [STIX FISHING GEAR LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833619037) |

## What reviewers say

### WillyWeather

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/willyweather/id592978502)

**Currently charting:** #151 Top Grossing · Weather, #172 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides highly localized weather forecasts, including detailed information on wind, rain, tides, and UV index. It processes and refines global weather data to offer precise predictions for thousands of specific locations across the US. Users can access interactive radar, satellite views, and real-time observational data.

**Highlights:** Hyper-local weather forecasts, Interactive rainfall radar, Detailed tide and swell data, Global wind forecast model, Hourly UV index forecasts, Real-time observational data, NOAA warnings

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WillyWeather+ (Monthly) | $4.00 | per month |
| WillyWeather+ (Yearly) | $36.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate and reliable weather data
- 👍 Comprehensive set of features (tides, wind, UV index, etc.)
- 🌈 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 💰 Good value for money (ad-free version)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🗺️ Inaccurate location detection and weather data for some areas
- 🕰️ Slow to load and update information
- 🔌 Apple Watch app issues (crashes, lack of complications)

**Reported bugs**

- Tide data inaccuracies in some locations
- Inconsistent rain/wind forecast information
- Inability to switch between saved locations easily

**Requested features**

- Home screen widgets
- Ability to customize main screen layout
- Live lightning map integration
- More granular control over notifications


### AlphaCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphacast/id6752629975)

This outdoor companion provides accurate local weather forecasts, moon phases, and tide information for hikers, anglers, and campers. Plan your adventures confidently with offline forecast downloads and smart alerts for changing conditions.

**Highlights:** Accurate local weather forecasts, Offline forecast downloads, Moon phases and illumination data, Tide information, Smart weather alerts, Clutter-free interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alphacast Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WillyWeather free?

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

### Is AlphaCast free?

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

### Which has better reviews, WillyWeather or AlphaCast?

AlphaCast is rated higher. WillyWeather averages 4.8 out of 5 from 23K ratings, while AlphaCast averages 5.0 from 11 ratings.

### Do WillyWeather or AlphaCast have ads?

WillyWeather shows ads; AlphaCast does not.

### Which is updated more often, WillyWeather or AlphaCast?

WillyWeather ships an update monthly, and AlphaCast every 8 days. Most recently, WillyWeather was updated on November 9, 2026 and AlphaCast on October 30, 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.*