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Weather · head to head

Storm Radar vs Zoom Earth

Storm Radar logo

Storm Radar

Weather

Advanced storm tracking from The Weather Channel

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Earth logo

Zoom Earth

Weather

Free browser-based satellite weather and storm tracking, no account or install

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Storm Radar iOS-only at launch with Android support still pending; Zoom Earth there are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
  • They diverge on capability: Storm Radar covers Future radar, Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Storm Radar and Zoom Earth actually diverge.

Attributes where Storm Radar and Zoom Earth differ
AttributeStorm RadarZoom Earth
Pricing modelUnknownFree, no account required
PlatformsiOSWeb
Founded1982Unknown

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
  • Lightning detection
  • Hurricane tracker
  • Severe alerts
  • Weather Channel ecosystem
  • Smart devices
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Only in Zoom Earth

  • Global satellite view
  • MODIS high resolution
  • Historical imagery
  • Precipitation radar overlay
  • No install required

Both cover

  • Storm tracking

What people use each for

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

Storm Radar

  • Professional Worknot Zoom Earth
  • Content Creationnot Zoom Earth

Zoom Earth

  • Watching a hurricane or typhoon track develop without installing an appnot Storm Radar
  • A quick global satellite check before deciding whether a local forecast app is worth openingnot Storm Radar
  • Journalists or researchers needing a citable, no-login satellite view of a weather eventnot Storm Radar
  • Comparing current satellite imagery against archived imagery from years earlier for the same regionnot Storm Radar

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

Zoom Earth

  • There are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
  • It has no offline mode, so it is unusable without an internet connection, unlike apps that cache forecasts.
  • Forecasting is minimal; it shows what the satellites and radar currently see rather than a detailed hyperlocal forecast.
  • Being free and unaccountable to a paying customer base, there is no committed support channel if the site or a data feed goes down.
  • The browser-only interface is less convenient for quick daily checks than a home-screen app icon with widgets.

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

Zoom Earth

Free
  • Zoom EarthFree
    • Full satellite and storm tracking access
    • No account, no ads-gated tier
    • No offline mode or push alerts

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 lightning detection.
Storm Radar review

Choose Zoom Earth if

  • You need global satellite view.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want modis high resolution.
Zoom Earth review

Questions people ask

Is Storm Radar or Zoom Earth better?
Neither clearly leads. Storm Radar starts at Free and Zoom Earth at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Storm Radar or Zoom Earth?
Storm Radar starts at Free and Zoom Earth at Free.
Does Storm Radar or Zoom Earth run on more platforms?
Storm Radar runs on iOS. Zoom Earth 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. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what Zoom Earth is typically brought in for.
What can Storm Radar do that Zoom Earth cannot?
Storm Radar covers Future radar, Lightning detection, Hurricane tracker, Severe alerts. Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view, MODIS high resolution, Historical imagery, Precipitation radar overlay. Both handle Storm tracking.

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
Zoom Earth: Do I need to create an account?

No. Zoom Earth works without registration or login.

Storm Radar: What platforms does Storm Radar support?

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

Source
Zoom Earth: Is there a mobile app?

No, it is a responsive website that works in mobile browsers rather than a native app.

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
Zoom Earth: How current is the imagery?

Geostationary imagery updates roughly every 10 to 15 minutes; higher-resolution MODIS imagery updates about twice a day.

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
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