About Great Weather
I downloaded Great Weather on a whim after my old weather app started bombarding me with ads. I needed something simple, accurate, and free. I’ve been testing it across different seasons now, from sudden summer downpours to checking if it’s cold enough to scrape my windshield in the morning. It’s built by a developer called 5660 BA, LLC, and honestly, for a free app, it punches well above its weight.
Features & Highlights
The features that I actually use daily are the ones that matter. The radar map is my favorite; I can see exactly where a rain band is and how long until it hits my neighborhood, which saved me from getting caught in a storm during my evening walk last week. I also have the air quality index widget on my home screen because I have allergies, and it’s been spot-on for telling me when to keep the windows closed. The severe weather alerts are no joke—I got a push notification for a flash flood warning a solid 20 minutes before my local news broke in. I don’t use the multi-language support myself, but I showed it to a friend who switched the app to Spanish and said it worked perfectly.
User Experience
Opening the app is straightforward. My current conditions and a simple forecast for the day are right there. I remember one Tuesday morning when I was rushing out the door; I glanced at the app, saw the “Feels Like” temperature was 10 degrees colder than actual, and went back for a heavier coat. That detail mattered. Scrolling down gives me the hourly breakdown, which I check before I decide to run errands. The design isn’t flashy, but it’s clean and the information is laid out logically. I never have to hunt for what I need.
Pricing
The app is completely free to download and use with no hidden paywalls for core features like the radar or forecasts. There are banner ads at the bottom of the screen, but they’re static and not the obnoxious video kind. They’ve never popped up over my info or interrupted me. For a zero-cost app that gives me reliable data, I find the trade-off of seeing a small ad totally worth it. There doesn’t seem to be a paid “Pro” version, which is refreshing—everyone gets the same good features.
Updates & Support
I see an update for Great Weather in the App Store every few weeks, usually with minor bug fixes or small interface tweaks. I had one issue where my location wasn’t updating correctly after an iOS update. I used the “Contact Support” link buried in the app’s settings, and I got a helpful, non-automated reply from a real person within two days with clear steps that fixed it. That level of support for a free app really impressed me.
Security & Privacy
I downloaded it directly from the official Apple App Store. The app needs location access to give you local forecasts, which makes sense. In its privacy policy, which I skimmed, it states that location data is used solely for providing weather services and is not sold to third parties. The ads appear to be generic and not creepily personalized to my other activities. I haven’t noticed any weird battery drain or data usage spikes, which suggests it’s not running heavy tracking in the background.
