Softwr

Weather · head to head

Apple Weather (Dark Sky) vs Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

Apple Weather (Dark Sky) logo

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Weather

Hyperlocal precipitation forecasts built into iOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Clime: NOAA Weather Radar logo

Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

Weather

Real-time NOAA radar with hurricane tracking

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Apple Weather (Dark Sky) has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; Clime: NOAA Weather Radar no pricing information published on website
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Clime: NOAA Weather Radar covers NOAA radar.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and Clime: NOAA Weather Radar actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and Clime: NOAA Weather Radar differ
AttributeApple Weather (Dark Sky)Clime: NOAA Weather Radar
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, macOSiOS, Android
Founded20112010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather).

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 Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

  • Minute-by-minute precipitation
  • Next-hour forecasts
  • Air quality
  • UV index
  • iOS widgets
  • Siri
  • Apple Watch
  • CarPlay

Only in Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

  • NOAA radar
  • Hurricane tracking
  • Precipitation forecast
  • Weather maps
  • NOAA data feeds
  • NWS alerts
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Severe weather alerts
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

  • Checking hyperlocal current conditions and next-hour precipitation forecasts on iPhone/iPad/Mac/Apple Watchnot Clime: NOAA Weather Radar
  • Viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 daysnot Clime: NOAA Weather Radar
  • Viewing high-resolution precipitation radar mapsnot Clime: NOAA Weather Radar
  • Receiving severe weather notificationsnot Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

  • Weather radar and forecastingnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Hurricane and storm trackingnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Real-time weather alertsnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Lightning detectionnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

  • No pricing information published on website
  • App available but no clear monetization model disclosed
  • Pricing model or free/paid distinction not specified
  • In-app purchases or premium features not mentioned

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full weather features
    • Minute-by-minute rain
    • Severe alerts

Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Clime: NOAA Weather Radar review.

Which should you pick?

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.

Choose Clime: NOAA Weather Radar if

  • You need noaa radar.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want hurricane tracking.

Questions people ask

Is Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Clime: NOAA Weather Radar better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) starts at Free and Clime: NOAA Weather Radar at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Clime: NOAA Weather Radar?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and On request for Clime: NOAA Weather Radar.
Does Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Clime: NOAA Weather Radar run on more platforms?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) runs on iOS, macOS. Clime: NOAA Weather Radar runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Apple Weather (Dark Sky) for free?
Yes. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Clime: NOAA Weather Radar starts at On request.
What is Apple Weather (Dark Sky) best used for?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) is most often used for checking hyperlocal current conditions and next-hour precipitation forecasts on iphone/ipad/mac/apple watch, viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 days, viewing high-resolution precipitation radar maps, receiving severe weather notifications. Of those, checking hyperlocal current conditions and next-hour precipitation forecasts on iphone/ipad/mac/apple watch and viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 days are not what Clime: NOAA Weather Radar is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Weather (Dark Sky) do that Clime: NOAA Weather Radar cannot?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Next-hour forecasts, Air quality, UV index. Clime: NOAA Weather Radar covers NOAA radar, Hurricane tracking, Precipitation forecast, Weather maps. Both handle Severe weather alerts, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Weather (Dark Sky): Is Dark Sky still available as a standalone service?

No. Dark Sky is no longer a standalone service. The Dark Sky API was discontinued on March 31, 2023, and replaced by Apple's WeatherKit API. Apple integrated Dark Sky's features into its native Weather app.

Source
Clime: NOAA Weather Radar: How much does the Clime weather app cost?

Clime does not publish pricing information on their website. To determine whether the app is free or requires payment, users must check the iOS App Store or Google Play Store directly.

Source
Apple Weather (Dark Sky): What features from Dark Sky are now in Apple Weather?

Apple Weather includes hyperlocal forecasts down to 0.001° precision, next-hour precipitation forecasts with charts and maps, extended hourly forecasts for 10 days, high-resolution weather maps with precipitation and air quality overlays, and government-issued severe weather alerts.

Source
Clime: NOAA Weather Radar: Are there in-app purchases or premium features in Clime?

Clime's website does not disclose whether premium features or in-app purchases exist. Check the app store listing for detailed pricing and feature information.

Source
Apple Weather (Dark Sky): What API replaced Dark Sky's API?

Developers who used Dark Sky API can now use Apple's WeatherKit API, which works across multiple platforms and replaces the deprecated Dark Sky API.

Source
Apple Weather (Dark Sky): What versions of Apple OS support the new Weather features?

Apple Weather with the new features is accessible on iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS 13 Ventura or newer, available through the App Store.

Source
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads