Apple Weather vs Mercury Weather
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
It's close: Apple Weather edges it 9.0 to 8.9, so the right pick depends on what you need. Apple Weather wins on 1 of the 5 scores, Mercury Weather on 2, with 2 tied.
iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a good forecast without another app
Apple users who want a fast, private forecast that looks great
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Apple Weather | Mercury Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Weather | Weather |
| Category rank | #2 of 8 | #4 of 8 |
| Developer | Apple | Triple Glazed Studios |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Apple Weather better than Mercury Weather?
It's close: Apple Weather edges it 9.0 to 8.9, so the right pick depends on what you need. Apple Weather wins on 1 of the 5 scores, Mercury Weather on 2, with 2 tied.
Which is cheaper, Apple Weather or Mercury Weather?
Apple Weather: Free and built into iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. Mercury Weather: Free; Premium listed at $2.99 a month, $14.99 a year or $59.99 lifetime. On value for money, Apple Weather scores higher.
Do Apple Weather and Mercury Weather work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Mac.
Which is more private, Apple Weather or Mercury Weather?
Mercury Weather scores higher on privacy (9.8/10). App Store label: Data Not Collected. The developer says the app does not collect any data.
Strengths and weaknesses
Apple Weather
- Free, ad-free and already on your iPhone
- Clean charts and maps that are easy to read
- Rain and severe weather notifications
- No Android, Windows or web version
- Next-hour rain and alerts aren't offered in every country
- You can't customize the layout or pick a data source
Apple Weather is the forecast app already on your iPhone, and it's good enough that many people never need another. You get hour-by-hour charts, a 10-day outlook, next-hour rain alerts, severe weather warnings, air quality and maps. iOS 27 added a Highlights summary and quick switching between conditions, rain and wind. You can't change the layout or the data source, and some features aren't offered in every country.
Full Apple Weather review
Mercury Weather
- Gorgeous, glanceable charts
- Trip Forecast handles road trips
- Collects no data according to its label
- Apple devices only
- Fewer map layers than radar-focused apps
Mercury Weather is for people who want a forecast they can read in two seconds. Smooth charts show temperature and rain across the day, rain timing is easy to read, and Trip Forecast shows the weather wherever you'll be on each day of a journey. Widgets and the Apple Watch app are lovely. It's Apple-only and lighter on maps than radar apps, but its App Store label says it collects nothing at all.
Full Mercury Weather review
