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Weather · head to head

Weather.gov vs Windy

Weather.gov logo

Weather.gov

Weather

Official U.S. National Weather Service forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windy logo

Windy

Weather

Advanced weather visualization and forecasting platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Weather.gov no official mobile app, requiring users to access through browser or shortcuts; 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: Weather.gov covers Official forecasts, Windy covers Weather visualization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Weather.gov and Windy actually diverge.

Attributes where Weather.gov and Windy differ
AttributeWeather.govWindy
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded18702014

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 Weather.gov

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

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

What people use each for

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

Weather.gov

  • Professional Worknot Windy
  • Content Creationnot Windy

Windy

  • Weather analysisnot Weather.gov
  • Flight planningnot Weather.gov
  • Wind pattern analysisnot Weather.gov
  • Meteorological researchnot Weather.gov

Where each one falls short

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

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  • Outdated user interface compared to commercial alternatives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

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

Weather.gov

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

Windy

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Weather.gov if

  • You need official forecasts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want severe weather warnings.
Weather.gov 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 Weather.gov or Windy better?
Neither clearly leads. Weather.gov 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, Weather.gov or Windy?
Weather.gov starts at Free and Windy at Free.
Does Weather.gov or Windy run on more platforms?
Weather.gov runs on Web. Windy runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Weather.gov for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Weather.gov best used for?
Weather.gov is most often used for professional work, content creation. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what Windy is typically brought in for.
What can Weather.gov do that Windy cannot?
Weather.gov covers Official forecasts, Severe weather warnings, Radar imagery, Marine forecasts. Windy covers Weather visualization, Wind forecasts, Precipitation maps, Interactive charts. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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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