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Weather · head to head

Storm Radar vs Weather.gov

Storm Radar logo

Storm Radar

Weather

Advanced storm tracking from The Weather Channel

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather.gov logo

Weather.gov

Weather

Official U.S. National Weather Service forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Storm Radar iOS-only at launch with Android support still pending; Weather.gov no official mobile app, requiring users to access through browser or shortcuts
  • They diverge on capability: Storm Radar covers Future radar, Weather.gov covers Official forecasts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Storm Radar and Weather.gov actually diverge.

Attributes where Storm Radar and Weather.gov differ
AttributeStorm RadarWeather.gov
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsiOSWeb
Founded19821870

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Storm Radar

  • Future radar
  • Storm tracking
  • Lightning detection
  • Hurricane tracker
  • Severe alerts
  • Weather Channel ecosystem
  • Smart devices
  • Ios support

Only in Weather.gov

  • Official forecasts
  • Severe weather warnings
  • Radar imagery
  • Marine forecasts
  • Aviation weather
  • API access
  • Data feeds
  • Alert systems

What people use each for

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

Storm Radar

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

Weather.gov

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

Both are used for professional work, content creation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Storm Radar

  • iOS-only at launch with Android support still pending
  • Premium subscription required for advanced features like future radar and custom alerts
  • Limited integration options with other weather or emergency alert services

Weather.gov

  • No official mobile app, requiring users to access through browser or shortcuts
  • No push notifications for weather alerts
  • Outdated user interface compared to commercial alternatives
  • Mobile website has been decommissioned with no dedicated mobile experience

Pricing, plan by plan

Storm Radar

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic weather radar
    • Real-time precipitation alerts
    • Severe weather warnings
  • Premium$3.99/month
    • Future radar (6-72 hours)
    • 30 advanced tracking features
    • AI Weather Assistant

Weather.gov

Free
  • FreeFree
    • All forecasts
    • Severe weather alerts
    • Radar data

Which should you pick?

Choose Storm Radar if

  • You need future radar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS.
  • You also want storm tracking.
Storm Radar review

Choose Weather.gov if

  • You need official forecasts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want severe weather warnings.
Weather.gov review

Questions people ask

Is Storm Radar or Weather.gov better?
Neither clearly leads. Storm Radar starts at Free and Weather.gov at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Storm Radar or Weather.gov?
Storm Radar starts at Free and Weather.gov at Free.
Does Storm Radar or Weather.gov run on more platforms?
Storm Radar runs on iOS. Weather.gov runs on Web.
Can I use Storm Radar for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Storm Radar best used for?
Storm Radar is most often used for professional work, content creation.
What can Storm Radar do that Weather.gov cannot?
Storm Radar covers Future radar, Storm tracking, Lightning detection, Hurricane tracker. Weather.gov covers Official forecasts, Severe weather warnings, Radar imagery, Marine forecasts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Storm Radar: How much does Storm Radar cost?

Storm Radar is free to download on iOS. Premium features cost $3.99 per month or $19.99 per year. The Weather Channel Premium Pro subscribers get all Storm Radar premium features for $4.99/month or $29.99/year.

Source
Weather.gov: Does Weather.gov have a mobile app?

No. The National Weather Service does not provide an official mobile app. Users can access weather.gov through a mobile browser or create a home screen shortcut, but there is no dedicated app for push notifications or offline access.

Source
Storm Radar: What platforms does Storm Radar support?

Storm Radar is currently available on iOS. An Android version is planned for future release.

Source
Weather.gov: Is Weather.gov free?

Yes. Weather.gov and its public API at api.weather.gov are completely free to use with no subscription fees. The API only requires a User-Agent header identification and serves weather data at no cost.

Source
Storm Radar: What storm tracking features does Storm Radar provide?

Storm Radar offers 6 hours of global future radar and up to 72 hours in the US, real-time precipitation alerts, NOAA severe weather warnings, lightning alerts, and up to 30 advanced tracking features for hurricanes, tornadoes, and other storms.

Source
Weather.gov: What data formats does Weather.gov API support?

The API supports multiple formats including GeoJSON (default), JSON-LD, DWML, OXML, CAP (Common Alerting Protocol), and ATOM, allowing developers to integrate weather data into various applications.

Source
Storm Radar: Does Storm Radar include an AI Weather Assistant?

Yes, Storm Radar includes an AI-Powered Weather Assistant that provides personal meteorologist-level insights using generative AI to transform complex weather data into natural updates.

Source
Weather.gov: Can I get detailed forecast data beyond basic predictions?

Yes. Weather.gov provides gridpoint endpoints with 12-hour and hourly forecast periods, raw forecast data at approximately 2.5km resolution, current observations from weather stations, and detailed alerts with state, county, and zone filtering.

Source
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