Comparison

Arc vs LucidSky

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

Head to head
About

Arc

Features
Read full description

See the weather unfold. Arc gives the forecast a shape you can follow. Clouds, temperature and wind move together across one fluid timeline, making the changing day clear at a glance. An atmospheric view brings current conditions to life, with a concise summary of the weather. Explore the days ahead or uncover the details of any hour, right from the chart. Pro adds unlimited locations, more frequent updates and weather alerts, plus Home Screen widgets and an Apple Watch experience built around the same visual forecast. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

LucidSky

This app offers a transparent weather forecast by showing confidence levels in predictions, unlike traditional apps. It provides detailed meteorological data and multiple model comparisons, allowing users to understand weather uncertainty. It's designed for those who want a deeper insight into weather patterns.

Highlights
  • Honest Mode for forecast confidence
  • Multi-model weather comparison
  • Animated precipitation radar
  • 7-day and extended 14-day forecasts
  • Air quality index (AQI)
  • No ads or data selling
Features
Currently charting
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Most weather apps give you a single number and call it a forecast. LucidSky shows you where forecasts are confident and where they're not, built on National Weather Service (NWS) data with ECMWF, GFS, HRRR, and ICON model comparison. A free Dark Sky alternative for people who want to understand the weather, not just glance at it. See what meteorologists actually see. Weather forecasts are inherently uncertain, but most apps hide that behind a single number. LucidSky doesn't. Choose Honest Mode to see confidence ranges around every prediction, or stick with Classic Mode for a clean, traditional experience. Same data, more transparency. Looking for a Dark Sky, AccuWeather, or Apple Weather alternative? LucidSky gives you NWS-sourced forecasts, animated precipitation radar, and multi-model ensemble comparison without subscriptions, ads, or data selling. WHAT YOU GET FOR FREE - Current conditions and 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service in the US, or the multi-model ensemble internationally - Weather alerts for the US from NWS, and for Canada from Environment and Climate Change Canada - Hourly temperature, precipitation, and wind charts with day/night shading - Air quality index (AQI) with health categories - Choose between Honest and Classic display modes - Imperial or Metric units, auto-detected from your region - No sign-in required, just open and go WHAT PRO UNLOCKS - Apple Family Sharing, so one subscription covers up to six family members. - Compare 9+ weather models side by side: ECMWF, GFS, HRRR, ICON, and more - Animated precipitation radar, with high-resolution coverage in Canada and the US - 24-hour precipitation forecast map so you can see where rain and snow are headed, not just where they are now - Extended 14-day forecasts - AI-summarized forecast discussions from NWS in the US, synthesized from the multi-model ensemble anywhere else - Date Forecast Trackers: pick a future date and watch the forecast evolve day by day with AI-narrated changes - 7-week seasonal outlook with 30-year climate normals - Minute-by-minute precipitation nowcast with intensity levels (light, moderate, heavy) - Recreational and marine weather forecasts with NWS briefings - 11 weather metrics: temperature, feels-like, precipitation, wind, humidity, dewpoint, cloud cover, visibility, and more WEATHER MODELS, EXPLAINED Different weather models predict different outcomes. When they agree, you can plan with confidence. When they disagree, you'll know to have a backup plan. LucidSky's multi-model ensemble view puts forecast uncertainty in your hands instead of hiding it behind a single number. BUILT DIFFERENT - No ads. No data selling. - Minimal data collection. Your location is never sold or used for advertising - Weather data sourced from NWS, Environment and Climate Change Canada, ECMWF, and other trusted public sources - Dynamic Type support, text scales with your accessibility settings - Full iPad support with optimized layouts - Designed for people who want to understand the weather, not just glance at it SUBSCRIPTION INFO LucidSky Pro is available as an annual auto-renewable subscription. Pricing is displayed at the time of purchase. New subscribers may be eligible for a free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account. Your subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://lucidsky.app/privacy Terms of Service: https://lucidsky.app/terms

Screenshots

Arc4 screens
LucidSky4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: LucidSky at #196 against Arc's unranked. LucidSky also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). 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. Arc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and LucidSky sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Arc ships an update fortnightly, LucidSky every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Arc versus LucidSky: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArcLucidSky
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
Best chart rank—#196 — better
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarios PentelasTERRENCE D FRADET

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Arc

Subscriptions3
  • Meteogram Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Meteogram Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
1 purchases

LucidSky

Subscriptions1
  • LucidSky Pro7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Arc free?
Arc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LucidSky free?
LucidSky is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Arc or LucidSky have ads?
Neither Arc nor LucidSky shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Arc or LucidSky?
Arc ships an update fortnightly, and LucidSky every 9 days. Most recently, Arc was updated on October 14, 2026 and LucidSky on October 2, 2026.

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