Windy.com review
Pro-grade weather maps and forecast models for free
- Windyty, SE
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Web
Does it deserve #2?
Is Windy.com worth it?
Yes. Windy.com scores 9.0/10 and ranks #2 in Weather. It's best for outdoor planners, pilots and sailors who want to see the weather themselves. Skip it if you just want today's high and whether to take an umbrella. Price: Free; Windy Premium adds hourly 15-day forecasts with more frequent updates.
The verdict
Windy puts the tools meteorologists use into a free app. Flip between ECMWF, GFS, ICON, meteoblue and local high-resolution models, then watch wind, rain, waves, snow or air quality animate across more than 50 map layers. Pilots, sailors, surfers and storm watchers get airport data, tides, webcams and a hurricane tracker. The sheer amount on screen takes some learning, but nothing else this capable costs so little.
- More than 50 weather map layers
- 15+ forecast models to compare
- Radar, satellite and lightning
- Hurricane tracker
- Aviation and marine tools
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Oct 2026Meteoblue became the default location forecast, plus a new lightning archive
- Oct 2026NOAA's new RRFS model replaced NAM
- Sep 2026Feels-like temperature and a predictability score for each day's forecast
Privacy 8.6/10
App Store label: location, user content, identifiers and diagnostics may be collected but are not linked to you. No tracking. Google Play lists no data shared with third parties.
What we like
- Compare forecast models side by side
- Huge free feature set
- Privacy label shows nothing linked to you
What could be better
- Busy interface can overwhelm casual users
- Hourly detail and faster updates need Premium
Outdoor planners, pilots and sailors who want to see the weather themselves
you just want today's high and whether to take an umbrella
Questions about Windy.com
Is Windy.com worth it in 2026?
Yes. Windy.com scores 9.0/10 and ranks #2 in Weather. It's best for outdoor planners, pilots and sailors who want to see the weather themselves. Skip it if you just want today's high and whether to take an umbrella. Price: Free; Windy Premium adds hourly 15-day forecasts with more frequent updates.
Is Windy free?
Yes, most maps, models and radar are free. Windy Premium adds 1-hour, 15-day forecasts updated four to six times a day, longer radar loops and archives.
Which forecast models does Windy have?
Global models include meteoblue, ECMWF, GFS and ICON, plus local models such as HRRR, HRDPS, UKV and AROME-HD.
What are the best alternatives to Windy.com?
The closest alternatives are Zoom Earth, RadarScope and CARROT Weather. See all of them ranked on our Windy.com alternatives page.
Where does Windy.com rank?
Windy.com ranks #2 of 7 in our Weather ranking, with an overall score of 9.0 out of 10.