Weather & Environment · head to head
1Weather vs Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
1Weather
Weather & Environment
Beautiful award-winning weather app design
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
Weather & Environment
Hyperlocal precipitation forecasts built into iOS
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 1Weather free version includes banner ads, creating visual clutter in weather interface; Apple Weather (Dark Sky) dark Sky as a standalone app and API no longer exists, it was removed from the App Store and its API shut down; Dark Sky's technology now only exists folded into the built-in Apple Weather app, so any 'Dark Sky' branded product/API can no longer be evaluated or purchased
- They diverge on capability: 1Weather covers Animated backgrounds, Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 1Weather and Apple Weather (Dark Sky) actually diverge.
| Attribute | 1Weather | Apple Weather (Dark Sky) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | free |
| Platforms | Android, iOS | iOS, macOS |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather & Environment), founded (2011).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 1Weather
- Animated backgrounds
- 12-day forecasts
- Customizable widgets
- Radar maps
- Severe alerts
- Android widgets
- Wear OS
- Android support
Only in Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
- Minute-by-minute precipitation
- Next-hour forecasts
- Severe weather alerts
- Air quality
- UV index
- iOS widgets
- Siri
- Apple Watch
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
1Weather
- Checking current conditions and 24-hour forecastsnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
- Live radar and severe weather warningsnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
- Tracking air quality index and pollen levels (premium)not Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
- Minute-by-minute precipitation tracking (premium)not Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
- Sun/moon tracking and home-screen weather widgetsnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
- Checking hyperlocal current conditions and next-hour precipitation forecasts on iPhone/iPad/Mac/Apple Watchnot 1Weather
- Viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 daysnot 1Weather
- Viewing high-resolution precipitation radar mapsnot 1Weather
- Receiving severe weather notificationsnot 1Weather
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
1Weather
- Free version includes banner ads, creating visual clutter in weather interface
- Smaller global weather data coverage compared to AccuWeather and Apple Weather integration
- Limited offline functionality compared to competitors with cached forecast systems
Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
- Dark Sky as a standalone app and API no longer exists, it was removed from the App Store and its API shut down; Dark Sky's technology now only exists folded into the built-in Apple Weather app, so any 'Dark Sky' branded product/API can no longer be evaluated or purchased
- Apple Weather has no public pricing/API tier of its own comparable to the old Dark Sky API, developers must use Apple's separate WeatherKit product instead
- Apple Weather (the consumer app) is limited to Apple's own platforms; it is not available on Android or Windows
Pricing, plan by plan
1Weather
Free- FreeFree
- Weather forecasts
- Radar maps
- Widgets
- Pro$null/mo
- All free features
- No ads
- Extended 10-day forecasts
Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
Free- FreeFree
- Full weather features
- Minute-by-minute rain
- Severe alerts
Which should you pick?
Choose 1Weather if
- You need animated backgrounds.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android, iOS.
- You also want 12-day forecasts.
Choose Apple Weather (Dark Sky) if
- You need minute-by-minute precipitation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, macOS.
- You also want next-hour forecasts.
Questions people ask
- Is 1Weather or Apple Weather (Dark Sky) better?
- Neither clearly leads. 1Weather starts at Free and Apple Weather (Dark Sky) at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 1Weather or Apple Weather (Dark Sky)?
- 1Weather starts at Free and Apple Weather (Dark Sky) at Free.
- Does 1Weather or Apple Weather (Dark Sky) run on more platforms?
- 1Weather runs on Android, iOS. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) runs on iOS, macOS.
- Can I use 1Weather for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is 1Weather best used for?
- 1Weather is most often used for checking current conditions and 24-hour forecasts, live radar and severe weather warnings, tracking air quality index and pollen levels (premium), minute-by-minute precipitation tracking (premium). Of those, checking current conditions and 24-hour forecasts and live radar and severe weather warnings are not what Apple Weather (Dark Sky) is typically brought in for.
- What can 1Weather do that Apple Weather (Dark Sky) cannot?
- 1Weather covers Animated backgrounds, 12-day forecasts, Customizable widgets, Radar maps. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Next-hour forecasts, Severe weather alerts, Air quality.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
1Weather: What are 1Weather's core features?
1Weather provides current conditions, 12-week hourly forecasts, 10-day forecasts, animated radar maps with minute-by-minute precipitation tracking, air quality metrics, and customizable widgets for up to 12 locations.
Source1Weather: What platforms does 1Weather support?
1Weather is available on both Android and iOS platforms, developed by OneLouder Apps. It has 180+ million downloads and is rated 4.32 out of 5 stars on app stores.
Source1Weather: What widget options does 1Weather offer?
1Weather offers a wide range of attractive, customizable widgets for home screen display. Multiple widget styles allow users to personalize their at-a-glance weather updates.
Source1Weather: Is there a paid version of 1Weather?
Yes. 1Weather is free with ads (small banner ads), while the Pro version removes ads and unlocks additional features like extended 10-day forecasts and air quality index cards.
Source