The sky turns dark and you wonder: is this a ten-minute shower or a real storm heading your way? Your phone can help answer that. Some apps show the rain moving across a map almost live and alert you when a warning is issued for your area.
Three names keep showing up in the app stores: MyRadar, Windy and The Weather Channel. All three are free to download on Android and iPhone, and each one is good at something different.
Here is what each app shows, what you get for free, where the ads appear and why none of them replaces an official warning.
Start with MyRadar 👇
6 min read
📋 What you’ll find here
- Can a storm app replace an official warning?
- What a storm app shows on the map
- MyRadar: the animated radar
- Windy: the most technical of the three
- The Weather Channel: forecast and alerts in one app
- What is free and where the ads start
Key Takeaways
- MyRadar, Windy and The Weather Channel are free to download on Android and iPhone
- MyRadar has an animated radar with a loop of up to 2 hours, Windy compares forecast models and The Weather Channel offers severe weather alerts
- On Google Play, MyRadar and The Weather Channel list ads and in-app purchases, while Windy says it has no ads but offers in-app purchases
- Alerts and map coverage can differ by region, so check what each app covers where you live
- An app helps you see a storm coming, but official warnings always come first
Can a storm app replace an official warning?
No. These apps help you see a storm coming: they show where the rain is and where it is heading. The decision to leave home or take shelter should follow official warnings, such as those from the National Weather Service and your local emergency alerts.
Think of the app as an extra pair of eyes. If your phone shows an official alert, follow it even when the map looks quiet: radar has delays and gaps.
What a storm app shows on the map
The core feature is radar: a map where colored patches show where it is raining and how hard. Green and blue usually mean light rain, yellow and orange heavier rain, and red calls for attention. The scale changes from app to app, so always read the legend.
On an animated map you can see which way the rain is moving and get time to bring the laundry in, move the car or put off the walk.
MyRadar: the animated radar
The store describes MyRadar, from ACME AtronOmatic, as a fast animated weather radar around your location, with a loop of up to 2 hours. Beyond rain, it has layers for wind, fronts, hurricanes, earthquakes, aviation and wildfires.
For alerts, the listing mentions National Weather Service warnings for tornadoes and severe weather, plus tropical storm and hurricane alerts. On Google Play, the app lists ads and in-app purchases.
- Animated radar with a loop of up to 2 hours
- Layers for wind, fronts, hurricanes and wildfires
- Severe weather alerts and advanced rain alerts
Windy: the most technical of the three
Windy, from Windyty, gathers several forecast models, such as ECMWF and GFS, and more than 40 maps, including Doppler radar and satellite. You can compare what each model predicts for the same place.
The store calls it completely free and ad-free, and lists in-app purchases. In return, the screen is more technical: if you only want to know whether it will rain, it can feel like too much.
The Weather Channel: forecast and alerts in one app
The Weather Channel has over 100 million downloads on Google Play, the highest tier of the three. The listing highlights a forecast of up to 15 days, radar and live severe weather alerts you can subscribe to for your city.
It covers the daily basics: temperature, chance of rain and warnings. On Google Play it lists ads and in-app purchases. Check which alerts the app offers for your address.
What is free and where the ads start
All three are free to download. On Google Play, MyRadar and The Weather Channel list ads and in-app purchases, and Windy says it has no ads, also with in-app purchases. Paid features vary, so read the purchase screen before you accept any charge.
If all you want is to watch the rain coming, start with the basics and pay only if you miss a feature.
How to read radar without being fooled
Radar shows where it rained a few minutes ago, not what will happen next. Compare two or three images in a row and watch the direction and speed of the patch: rain that moves fast passes soon, while rain that stalls over you can flood the streets.
Pair the map with what you see in the sky. A very dark cloud, wind that shifts suddenly and distant thunder are signs the storm is close, even when the app shows little.
- Compare images in a row to see the direction
- Read each app’s color legend
- Check the sky and the wind too
How the ratings compare
On Google Play, MyRadar has a 4.9 rating from 341K reviews, Windy has 4.8 from 827K and The Weather Channel has 4.8 from 3.61M. On the US App Store, the scores are 4.85 for MyRadar, 4.82 for Windy and 4.76 for The Weather Channel.
Which one to pick
To watch the rain coming, MyRadar is the most direct path thanks to its animated radar. To compare forecasts and wind maps, Windy goes deeper. For a daily forecast with warnings, The Weather Channel covers the essentials.
You can install more than one and use each for a different job. What you cannot do is rely on an app alone: keep your phone’s emergency alerts turned on.
How to download them and turn on alerts
Use the buttons in this article, which lead to the official page on Google Play or the App Store. The app will ask for your location and for permission to send notifications: without them it cannot warn you when there is risk near you.
Open the app on a calm day and read the map legend, so you already know the colors when the weather turns.
Is it worth it?
It is worth having one on your phone. To see the rain coming, all three are free to start with. For your safety, the official warning comes first: a weather app helps you decide, but it does not decide for you.
This article is informative and independent. The ratings, review counts and downloads were checked on the stores on October 24, 2026. We have no connection with the developers mentioned, and we are not responsible for how the apps work, for the accuracy of the maps and alerts or for changes in price. The store listing is always the final source.
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FAQ
Will the app warn me before the rain arrives?
The apps show radar and, once you turn them on, send severe weather alerts. The warning depends on your area being covered, so check in the app. Always follow the official alert from the National Weather Service and your local emergency alerts.
Do I have to pay to see the radar?
Downloading all three is free. MyRadar and The Weather Channel list ads and in-app purchases on Google Play, while Windy says it has no ads but has purchases. Read the purchase screen before you accept.
Which app shows the rain moving best?
MyRadar has a live animated radar with a loop of up to 2 hours, according to the store. Windy also has radar, and The Weather Channel has radar and forecasts.
Do these apps work outside the United States?
All three have Android and iPhone versions and appear in many stores. Which alerts and maps show up varies by region, so check in the app what it covers where you live.
Can I rely on the app alone?
No. The app helps you see a storm coming, but the decision to leave home or take shelter should follow official warnings and what you see around you.
Do I need to keep location on?
For the app to warn you about risk near you, it needs your location and permission to send notifications. Without them you can still see the radar, but you will not get the warning.
