Comparison

SkyAware vs Storm Heads

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

Head to head
About

SkyAware

Features
Read full description

How weather-aware do you need to be today? SkyAware gives you a focused, fast view of severe weather near you, helping you understand when the weather deserves your attention and when it doesn’t. Clear awareness, without the noise Most weather apps show you everything. SkyAware focuses on what matters for severe weather, using trusted public weather data to turn complex information into a calm, glanceable view of your local risk. SkyAware shows you: • Today’s local storm and fire risk • Warnings, watches, and mesoscale discussions affecting or near your location • The severe-weather threats that matter most • Atmospheric conditions that can support severe storms • Interactive risk maps and official outlook information • Location-aware notifications when important conditions change • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets for quick risk checks, including prioritized local alerts in the large widget Dig deeper when you want more context, or get the important picture in just a few seconds. Built for awareness SkyAware is designed to help you understand your severe-weather environment, not overwhelm you with raw weather data. Risk levels, summaries, and other guidance are derived from authoritative public weather products and SkyAware’s own processing. Your location is used only to provide relevant weather information and notifications. SkyAware does not sell your data, track you across apps or websites, or build advertising profiles. Important SkyAware is an informational severe-weather awareness app. It does not issue official warnings, and notifications may not always be immediate. Always rely on official alerts from the National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Radio, and local authorities for emergency information.

About

Storm Heads

Receive timely, plain-English notifications about upcoming severe weather events like storms, snow, and extreme heat. Get actionable advice on how to prepare, alongside official NWS alerts and live radar.

Highlights
  • Heads-up nudges for weather hazards
  • Official NWS watches, warnings, and advisories
  • Severe weather outlook
  • Live radar with warning areas
  • Hour-by-hour and day-by-day forecasts
  • Weather cameras
  • Multiple location support
Features
Read full description

Storm Heads-Up is weather, with a to-do list. Instead of drowning you in maps and numbers, it watches the National Weather Service forecast for your home and taps you on the shoulder at the right moment: 4 hours, 2 hours, or 1 hour before storms, snow, ice, heavy rain, extreme heat, fog, or high wind reach you. Every nudge is a plain-English heads-up with one useful thing to do. Tuck the patio cushions away. Find the ice scraper before you need it. Charge your phone before the wind picks up. WHAT YOU GET • Heads-up nudges: pick the hazards you care about and the lead times you want. Muting a hazard silences the buzz without hiding the warning. • Official NWS alerts: watches, warnings, and advisories for your area, with the full official text, timing, and instructions. Warnings always come through, even for muted hazards. • Severe weather outlook: NOAA Storm Prediction Center risk for today, tomorrow, and the day after, with tornado, wind, and hail odds when a day turns active. • Live radar: animated NOAA radar with official warning areas drawn on the map. Tap a warning to read the full alert right there. • Forecast: hour-by-hour and day-by-day, straight from weather.gov. • Weather cameras: nearby FAA weather cams for a real look at the sky. • A quiet 6 AM morning brief, if you want it. • Multiple locations: watch the weather anywhere; nudges come only from the one place you call home. HONEST BY DESIGN No account and no sign-up. Your saved locations stay on your phone. When a check fails or data goes stale, the app says so instead of pretending the sky is clear. All weather data comes from NWS, NOAA, and FAA public services, the same sources meteorologists use. Storm Heads-Up covers the United States and its territories. Free, supported by a small banner ad. Important: not an official warning system Storm Heads-Up is a convenience tool that surfaces National Weather Service (NWS/NOAA) forecasts and alerts with friendly, timed heads-up notifications. It is not an official warning system. Data and notifications can be delayed, interrupted, or wrong, whether by network conditions, your device's battery and background restrictions, or upstream outages. Never rely on this app for life-safety decisions. Always follow official warnings from the National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and your local emergency management.

Screenshots

SkyAware4 screens
Storm Heads4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SkyAware at none against Storm Heads's shown. Storm Heads's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SkyAware ships an update monthly, Storm Heads fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SkyAware versus Storm Heads: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkyAwareStorm Heads
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Ad-supported
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJUSTIN WILLIAM ROOKSMelissa Ospina

In-app purchases

None

SkyAware

No in-app purchases

None

Storm Heads

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SkyAware free?
SkyAware is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Storm Heads free?
Storm Heads is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SkyAware or Storm Heads have ads?
Storm Heads shows ads; SkyAware does not.
Which is updated more often, SkyAware or Storm Heads?
SkyAware ships an update monthly, and Storm Heads fortnightly. Most recently, SkyAware was updated on October 18, 2026 and Storm Heads on October 9, 2026.

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