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Weather & Environment · head to head

The Weather Channel vs Windy

The Weather Channel logo

The Weather Channel

Weather & Environment

America's most trusted weather source with real-time forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windy logo

Windy

Weather & Environment

Advanced weather visualization and forecasting platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: The Weather Channel premium radar features are limited to iOS and macOS; not available on Android or other platforms; Windy windy Premium is required for the 1-hour and 15-day forecast outlook, 4-6x daily model updates, 24-hour radar/satellite loops with 1-year archives, and tide forecast maps, per the App Store listing; the free tier lacks these
  • They diverge on capability: The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Windy covers Weather visualization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which The Weather Channel and Windy actually diverge.

Attributes where The Weather Channel and Windy differ
AttributeThe Weather ChannelWindy
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, RokuWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19822014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather & Environment).

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 The Weather Channel

  • 10-day forecasts
  • Hourly predictions
  • Interactive radar
  • Severe weather alerts
  • Air quality index
  • Smart home devices
  • Connected cars
  • Wearables

Only in Windy

  • Weather visualization
  • Wind forecasts
  • Precipitation maps
  • Interactive charts
  • Real-time data
  • Global weather models
  • Satellite data
  • Weather APIs

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

The Weather Channel

  • Checking daily and 10-day local weather forecastsnot Windy
  • Tracking storms and hurricanes via Storm Radarnot Windy
  • Viewing weather radar mapsnot Windy
  • Getting severe weather alertsnot Windy
  • Accessing weather news and video content on weather.comnot Windy

Windy

  • Weather analysisnot The Weather Channel
  • Flight planningnot The Weather Channel
  • Wind pattern analysisnot The Weather Channel
  • Meteorological researchnot The Weather Channel

Where each one falls short

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

The Weather Channel

  • Premium radar features are limited to iOS and macOS; not available on Android or other platforms
  • Premium subscription required for advanced radar customization
  • Premium perks tied to partner deals which may change

Windy

  • Windy Premium is required for the 1-hour and 15-day forecast outlook, 4-6x daily model updates, 24-hour radar/satellite loops with 1-year archives, and tide forecast maps, per the App Store listing; the free tier lacks these

Pricing, plan by plan

The Weather Channel

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Rain radar and storm tracker
    • Allergy tracker
    • 24-hour future radar
  • Premium$29.99/year
    • All free features
    • Premium perks program (up to USD 187 value)
    • 18Birdies golf app access (30% off plus free week)

Windy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Weather maps
    • Wind forecasts
    • Precipitation data
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Advanced models
    • Historical data
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose The Weather Channel if

  • You need 10-day forecasts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku.
  • You also want hourly predictions.
The Weather Channel review

Choose Windy if

  • You need weather visualization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want wind forecasts.
Windy review

Questions people ask

Is The Weather Channel or Windy better?
Neither clearly leads. The Weather Channel starts at Free and Windy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, The Weather Channel or Windy?
The Weather Channel starts at Free and Windy at Free.
Does The Weather Channel or Windy run on more platforms?
The Weather Channel runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku. Windy runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use The Weather Channel for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is The Weather Channel best used for?
The Weather Channel is most often used for checking daily and 10-day local weather forecasts, tracking storms and hurricanes via storm radar, viewing weather radar maps, getting severe weather alerts. Of those, checking daily and 10-day local weather forecasts and tracking storms and hurricanes via storm radar are not what Windy is typically brought in for.
What can The Weather Channel do that Windy cannot?
The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Hourly predictions, Interactive radar, Severe weather alerts. Windy covers Weather visualization, Wind forecasts, Precipitation maps, Interactive charts. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

The Weather Channel: What is the cost of The Weather Channel Premium?

The Weather Channel Premium subscription costs USD 29.99 annually with a 7-day free trial before the annual charge is applied.

Source
The Weather Channel: What premium features are included?

The Weather Channel Premium includes premium perks program offering up to USD 187 in partner deals, access to 18Birdies golf app (30% off plus free week), and professional-grade customizable radar with high-resolution single-site radar on iOS and macOS devices.

Source
The Weather Channel: What are the free features available?

Free features include rain radar, storm tracker, allergy tracker, 24-hour future radar, storm alerts, Feels Like temperature, hourly and daily forecasts, weather widgets with dark mode support, and air quality monitoring.

The Weather Channel: What devices are supported?

The Weather Channel app is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, and other streaming platforms.

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