How to Choose Weather App?
Wondering whether you should take your umbrella to work tomorrow because it might rain when you're heading home? Or debating if it’s a good idea to go hiking on this gray weekend? Being prepared is always wise, and having the right tools, like a weather app, can help you stay ahead of the weather "for a rainy day."
There are plenty of weather apps available that provide detailed reports and forecasts for virtually any location around the world. Whether you’re checking the weather for your local area or planning a trip across the globe, these apps are incredibly useful. Many of them are free to use but also offer additional features and enhanced accuracy for a one-time purchase or a monthly/yearly subscription. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best free and paid weather apps for iPhones. But while you’re checking the forecast, there’s something important to keep in mind—your location data.
The Role of Location in Weather Apps: Weather apps rely heavily on your location to give you accurate forecasts. By accessing your GPS data, these apps can provide real-time updates specific to where you are. However, constantly sharing your location can come with privacy concerns. Some weather apps collect and store your location data, which can be used for purposes beyond just giving you the weather report. This is where using a VPN becomes essential. A VPN allows you to mask your actual location, giving you control over who has access to your data. By using a VPN in conjunction with your weather app, you can still get precise forecasts without compromising your privacy.
How a VPN Can Protect Your Location Data: When you use a VPN on your iPhone, your real location is hidden from the apps and websites you visit. Instead, the VPN routes your internet connection through a different server, making it appear as if you’re in another city or even another country. This is particularly useful when you want to check the weather for a different location without exposing your real GPS data. A VPN ensures that weather apps only see the location you choose to share, protecting your privacy while still providing you with the forecast you need.
Choosing the Best Weather App for Your iPhone: In addition to privacy considerations, choosing the right weather app comes down to the features and accuracy it offers. Some apps provide detailed hour-by-hour forecasts, radar images, and severe weather alerts, while others focus on simplicity and ease of use. Many apps also allow you to track multiple locations, perfect for frequent travelers or those keeping an eye on the weather in different regions. But whatever app you choose, combining it with a VPN will give you the best of both worlds—accurate weather predictions without exposing your location data to third parties.
In conclusion, weather apps are essential tools for staying prepared, whether you’re deciding what to wear to work or planning an outdoor adventure. However, given how much these apps rely on location data, it’s important to protect your privacy. By using a VPN on your iPhone, you can enjoy all the benefits of your favorite weather apps while keeping your location hidden. So go ahead, stay ahead of the weather and keep your data secure at the same time.
Best Weather Apps
Carrot Weather
Carrot Weather playfully approaches weather reporting. The app is relatively simple. Its homepage shows the current temperature and hourly/weekly forecasts. There's a tab for weather notifications as well as a built-in geography game.
Carrot Weather acquires info from Weather Underground, so your location data is shared with them, according to its privacy policy. It is free to download, but you can upgrade for a monthly or yearly fee to remove ads and install widgets. The app has a simple design and regular reports. But unfortunately, it has location-based third-party ads.
Dark Sky
Dark Sky shows the temperature and how hot or cold it feels like on its home page. It gives a listed forecast for the rest of the day or week. It has easy tracking of weather worldwide. Its straightforward interface and interactive world map make the app a reliable solution.
Dark Sky features an interactive world map that lets you zoom in and out of various areas to track forecasts. You can report the weather for your location. Dark Sky shares data with third-party companies, applying the advertiser’s privacy policy.
AccuWeather
AccuWeather provides a snapshot of the day's weather and temperature in the sun or shade, with the UV index and wind speed. AccuWeather gives different allergy levels (e.g., ragweed pollen) for the day. At the top, you can check hourly temperatures on a map.
It is upgradable for a one-off fee to terminate ads and get an extra 10 days of forecasts. AccuWeather retains user data and shares them with unaffiliated third parties for targeted advertisements.
Best Free Weather Apps
Apple Weather
iPhones come with a default weather app. Apple Weather features a minimal design, as well as a map for geographic weather. There are also metrics for the UV index, temperature, and air quality. Apple Weather sometimes gets awkward in terms of navigation.
Weather Channel
Weather Channel tracks storms and provides real-time updates for safety planning. It automatically adjusts based on the present location and shows the current weather and hourly weather. Those who suffer from allergies will find the app useful, but it occasionally runs too slow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to edit the Weather app on iPhone?
Swipe right from the Home screen on your iPhone, scroll down, and tap Edit. Find the section of third-party widgets, and tap Customize. Select your third-party weather app and tap (+) to add it.
How do I reset weather app on iPhone?
Maybe your weather app is not working because the Background refresh has been turned off. To fix it, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and change it to WLAN & Cellular Data. Then select the weather app and enable it.
If it’s not working, navigate to Settings and tap on General. Tap Reset > Reset Location & Privacy and then confirm to rest your weather app.
Weather forecasts are crucial in day-to-day planning, and it’s never been easier and faster to receive accurate weather news until now. Some weather apps offer unique features, in comparison to free ones, for a one-time or recurring subscription fee. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the forecasts is more or less the same for all weather apps.