The best Dark Sky alternatives for iOS and Android
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
Dark Sky shut down its doors on Android a couple of years ago after Apple purchased the app. The company then removed it from the Apple App Store back in September of 2022. As of January 1st, 2023, Dark Sky is shut down for good. That means the API goes down, the app will cease to function, and it’ll no longer be available anywhere. It’s a sad day since we quite liked Dark Sky when it was on Android. Now, it’s time to shop for alternatives. Here are the best Dark Sky alternatives you can get on iOS and Android.
To douse your hopes a little bit, it’s important to note that there is no weather app quite like Dark Sky. It’s probably why Apple bought the app, because it was truly unique in its space.
For iOS users, Apple’s stock weather app has many Dark Sky features. This is why Apple bought the service. If you want the closest possible experience to Dark Sky, your best bet is to use the stock Apple weather app. Unfortunately, it’s not available for Android.
The best Dark Sky alternatives
1Weather
A good weather app with hyperlocal weather features and a good-looking UI.
- Pricing (Android): Free / $1.99
- Pricing (iOS): Free / $1.99 per month / $9.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- Covers all of the bases with hourly and daily forecasts, a radar, hyperlocal weather, and more.
- The Android version is pay-once and reasonably inexpensive.
- Clean, simple UI that works quite well.
- Extras like air quality, sun and moon tracking, and more are fun.
What we don’t like:
- The iOS version is more expensive.
- Radar can sometimes jam up on you.
- Ads on the free version can be annoying sometimes.
1Weather is a decent alternative to Dark Sky. It has all of the features necessary to make it successful, and the hyperlocal weather paired with the hourly forecast isn’t 100{f5ac61d6de3ce41dbc84aacfdb352f5c66627c6ee4a1c88b0642321258bd5462} accurate, but it’s closer than many. Where 1Weather makes up for it is with a clean UI, extras like air quality metrics, and a one-of-its-kind 12-week forecast that is reasonably accurate, even if it’s a day or so off.
We didn’t run into too many problems with the app. The iOS version is more expensive, and the radar freezes up occasionally, but otherwise, the app works quite well. We like this option because it’s a single price for Android users, making it much cheaper than most competitors. Both the Android and iOS versions work pretty well, which is not uncommon, but it’s not exactly common either.
AccuWeather
A big name in weather with a serviceable app.
- Pricing: Free / $1.99 per month / $19.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- AccuWeather is a big name in weather, and many other apps use AccuWeather to source weather information.
- Above average radar, even if it’s still not comparable to Dark Sky.
- Plenty of advanced features like storm tracking, air quality, and allergy data.
- The MinuteCast feature is an okay competitor to Dark Sky’s up-to-the-minute forecasting capabilities.
What we don’t like:
- The app is consistently updated, and not every UI update is a positive one.
- The widgets could be better.
- It switched from a single payment to a subscription plan, which is never a popular move.
AccuWeather is a pretty big name in weather. It has an API that many other developers use to service the weather. Thus, you’ve likely used AccuWeather before within another developer’s app. AccuWeather’s app is fairly simple. The UI is easy to navigate, and there are shortcuts to everything that is just a click away.
There isn’t too much to complain about. The radar is mostly accurate unless you’re on the fringe of a storm, and then it’s a little random. The MinuteCast feature isn’t always accurate, but it’s still better than nothing. We also appreciate the addition of things like allergy and air quality metrics, something many competitors haven’t done yet. The subscription is competitive, and the free version still works well. It’s one of our favorite weather apps.
Carrot Weather
Overview Sentence
- Pricing (Android): Free / $0.99 per month / $3.99 per year
- Pricing (iOS): Free / $4.99 per month / $19.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- A sassy app that adds a bit of comedy to the weather experience.
- Ritzy features like a 70-year weather history and strong customization features help set it apart from the rest.
- The iOS version is current with support for things like Dynamic Island and Apple Watch support.
- Some of the more reliable current, hourly, and daily forecasts of any app on the list.
What we don’t like:
- The Android version does not garner attention from the developer like the iOS version does.
- Some of the features, like the achievements and recording your own weather videos, are a little gimmicky.
Carrot Weather is a tale of two experiences. The iOS app is easily among the best weather apps on the whole platform. It’s updated regularly, has excellent accuracy, tons of customization, and integrates well with modern Apple things like Dynamic Island and the Apple Watch. We recommend it wholeheartedly, and it’s one of the more popular Dark Sky alternatives. You can even set the weather aggregator to Apple Weather, which is what Dark Sky got integrated into. It’s almost kind of like having Dark Sky again.
The Android version, on the other hand, hasn’t been updated in a couple of years, doesn’t have the modern features of its iOS bunkmate, and it’s not one we recommend. The developer has stated that the iOS version makes more money, and so that’s where the attention goes. That’s fair. However, we hope they give the Android version some love again someday because we’d love to recommend it there too.
Geometric Weather
A rare, totally free weather app that competes with the big kids.
What we like:
- It’s free and open-source. There’s even a FOSS variant on F-Droid for Android users.
- Includes the basic stuff like real-time temperature, air quality metrics, 15-day forecast, and more.
- The app also includes global weather data and weather alerts.
- A very clean UI that is easy to read.
What we don’t like:
- It may be a bit too simple for some folks.
- Does not include a radar.
- The iOS version is still in TestFlight.
Geometric Weather is a serviceable replacement for Dark Sky. It omits the radar portion entirely, instead choosing to focus on a simple timeline. Many users like to pair this with something like MyRadar, Radarscope, or Ventusky (listed below). The other app provides the advanced radar experience while you get the forecasting stuff from Geometric. It’s a nice one-two combo.
That said, the app may be too simple for some folks. It doesn’t include any snazzy features like Carrot Weather or advanced stuff like allergy metrics. The app is entirely free, so you kind of get what you pay for. We think it’s an excellent companion to one of the radar apps on this list. It’s also the only entirely free app on the list, and we wanted to include something that was free.
MyRadar
What we like:
- Excellent radar with plenty of layers to customize how you want.
- Compatible with Wear OS and Apple Watch.
- Capable of sending storm alerts and other warnings.
- Surprisingly accurate.
What we don’t like:
- Regular weather functions, like forecasts or current conditions, aren’t as robust as some other apps.
- Some of the really cool stuff, like hurricane tracking, is in the premium version only.
MyRadar is one of the truly excellent radar apps on iOS or Android. It’s not quite as flashy as Dark Sky’s, but it’s very nearly as reliable. The map has pleasingly smooth animations, tons of layers to apply, and it’s among the most accurate radars on the list. There are some other decent features as well, although they require a premium subscription. We really like it as a hurricane tracker as well, and it’s one of our favorites in that category.
The only downsides of the app include a slight learning curve, and it’s not like most other weather apps on the list. In fact, many people pair this with a second, more traditional weather app for stuff like long-term forecasts. Still, this is one of my personal favorite weather apps, and it’s what I switched to after Dark Sky left Android.
Radarscope
Joe Hindy / Android Authority
A seriously powerful radar app, and one of the few with Level Three radar data.
- Pricing: Free / $14.99 per month / $9.99 – $99.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- NEXRAD Level 3 radar, which is a rarity in this space.
- A variety of built-in alerts, including tornado,k flash flood, and marine warnings.
- One of the truly excellent weather radars on either iOS or Android.
- Competes very well with MyRadar.
What we don’t like:
- Like MyRadar, you’ll likely want to pair this with something more traditional for forecasts.
- Somewhat unorthodox subscription options.
- There is a slight learning curve.
Radarscope competes with MyRadar for the best radar app on iOS or Android. Much like MyRadar, this app is almost exclusively a weather radar app. That means you won’t get things like forecasts and other stuff. Instead, you get a seriously powerful set of features and one of the most reliable radars on mobile.
It has some power user features like NEXRAD Level Three radar data, which is the top of the food chain for consumer-level products. It’s very reliable the vast majority of the time, and there are even other radar options if you want to see more. The only downside is the subscription cost. You can pay $9.99 per year for basic access, or $14.99 per month, which includes things like 30 days’ worth of radar data, hail size data, and other perks. It’s pricy, but definitely worth it if you’re into this kind of stuff.
Today Weather
A simple weather app that does almost everything right.
- Pricing: Free / $0.99 per month / $3.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- Simple, customizable UI and widgets make for a weather app you actually like using.
- Multiple weather sources, including AccuWeather, OpenWeatherMap, Foreca, and others.
- It’s usually accurate, although that may vary based on which weather source you use.
- The radar is not as good as the best, but it’s still better than average.
What we don’t like:
- Minor quirks on both platforms may not please everybody.
- While everything about the app is good, nothing about the app is exceptional except the looks.
Today Weather is one of those weather apps that’s tough to dislike. It looks good, it has excellent widgets, and you get the usual features like forecasts, radar, and things like air quality and pollen counts. It certainly does a good job of covering all of the bases. There are also multiple options for weather sources in case one isn’t accurate in your area.
There really isn’t all that much wrong with it. There are some usability quirks here and there. For instance, radar is a premium feature on iOS, but a free feature on Android. We’re not sure why. Aside from some minor inconsistencies and the occasional wrong temperature reading, we can’t think of a reason this wouldn’t be a good Dark Sky alternative.
Ventusky
Ventusky is the only app on this list with a radar that looks a little like Dark Sky’s.
What we like:
- The 3D radar looks and acts like the Dark Sky radar, which may please some people.
- Reasonably good and accurate weather, and uses more advanced models than most other apps.
- Shows basic stuff like temperature or wind speed in a more advanced way than most competitors.
- Competes with Radarscope and MyRadar as one of the best weather radars on mobile.
What we don’t like:
- Like its competitors, it’s a great radar, but not a great general weather app.
- The sheer number of settings can be a little overwhelming initially, especially if you don’t know a lot about weather models.
Ventusky is probably your best Dark Sky alternative if you want to keep that wonderful 3D world map that Dark Sky had. This app does it, and it does it just as well as Dark Sky did. The app includes dozens of weather models as well, so you can choose which complex mathematical formula you want to predict your weather.
The app has some other things going for it. It’s cheaper than Radarscope and MyRadar while being just as reliable, if not more so in some cases. The UI is clean and smooth. Really, aside from needing a companion weather app for the usual stuff like forecasts, this one is a slam dunk. It’s definitely worthy of consideration for a Dark Sky replacement.
WeatherBug
A long-time favorite in the weather space from a lot of people.
- Pricing: Free / $0.99 per month / $9.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- Long list of features, including some flashy extras like lightning maps, International radar support, and weather cameras you can tap into.
- It also includes the basics, like current weather, forecasts, air quality, pollen counts, etc.
- A simple UI that does well to show you all of the above listed features without feeling too cramped.
- Reasonably good weather radar.
What we don’t like:
- Obnoxious ads on the free version.
- It can be a little over-the-top with notifications.
- More recent editions seem to be a little buggy.
WeatherBug has been around for a long time. Thus, it’s a mature weather app with a metric ton of features. They include basic stuff like extended forecasts and current weather conditions. You also get all kinds of other stuff like traffic cams to visibly see the weather in your area. People looking for a Swiss Army Knife weather app, WeatherBug should fit the bill pretty well.
It’s reasonably priced compared to its competitors, and even stuff like the radar is pretty good. The only issues we ran into were slightly obnoxious weather notifications and some intrusive advertising in the free version. Additionally, there are enough user reports of errors and bugs with newer editions that we couldn’t ignore them. However, new versions of apps have bugs all the time, so we’re giving WeatherBug the benefit of the doubt, assuming they fix the issues eventually.
Windy.com
An all-around beautiful weather radar without enough features to make it count.
- Pricing: Free / $2.99 per month / Up to $29.99 per year
- Platforms: iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play)
What we like:
- There are 51 different layers on its weather radar.
- Direct access to 55,000 webcams that are viewing weather conditions.
- Several different weather models to choose from, including big shots like GFS by NOAA.
- Worldwide access with over 40 supported languages.
What we don’t like:
- As with all the other radar apps, you’ll need a regular weather app for the basic stuff like forecasts.
- The more granular options and support require a subscription.
Windy.com is our fourth weather radar app on this list, and it competes favorably with the other three. This one is free to use with no advertising. However, you do miss out on some stuff. For example, the app only lets you view hourly forecasts if you pay the subscription. You only get three-hour increments for free. You do still get access to the app’s impressive number of layers, though, so there are plenty of pretty animations to see.
Its shortcomings are fairly typical in the weather radar space. There isn’t a clean UI that displays the current temperatures, upcoming forecasts, and things like pollen counts. At-a-glance stuff like that is best served by a secondary app or widget on your home screen. Other than that, this is right up there, although we like Radarscope and Ventusky a little more.
If we missed any great Dark Sky alternatives, tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists.