Weather apps are notoriously easy to build and extremely difficult to police. Any developer can whip up an interface from a template, add a weather API (there are loads of them), and put it up on the App Store. That “innocent” weather app can then serve you ads, track your usage, and sell your data, including your location history. Even large companies like AccuWeather and Weather Channel were found sharing private user data with the highest bidder, even when users had expressly opted out.
If you’re currently using a weather app, it’s time for a privacy check. Open the app’s page in the App Store or Play Store, go to the data section, and see what data of yours it’s using. In the best case scenario, it’s none—on the App Store, for example, you ideally want to see a “Data Not Collected” banner. The next best thing to do is to disable precise location sharing, which will mean the app can know which city you’re in, but not your exact location.
Even after that, your weather app might be too carefree with your data to be worth using. If you’re okay letting go of your current weather app, here are some privacy-first options:
Use a weather website
Weather apps are useful, but perhaps you don’t need all their fancy features. You might just need a resource letting you know whether or not to bring your umbrella to work today. If so, a weather website will suit you just fine. You won’t get custom alerts or deep data-analysis, but you will preserve your privacy. Plus, these sites are completely free. As you dive a bit deeper into the world of weather apps, you’ll soon find out that privacy does come at a cost—usually to your wallet.
Looking for a reliable weather websites? Consider Windy, Ventusky, and the National Weather Service.
Apple and Google have good default weather apps
Whether you have an iPhone or an Android, your smartphone has a solid weather app built right in. Yes, the Weather app on the iPhone hasn’t been the most reliable lately, but it does the job most of the time. And Google’s weather updates are not only trustworthy, but they can be found on Google’s search page as well.
Or choose a weather app that cares about your privacy
If you’re sure you want a third-party weather app on your home screen, here are some of the best options that won’t intrude on your privacy.
Carrot Weather
Image: Carrot Weather
Carrot Weather is popular because of its snarky personality and its attention to design. The free version of the app will be enough for most users (it shows an hourly forecast and basic weather details). Anything more will cost you. For example, its fully customizable interface and its beautiful weather widgets are behind a paywall, along with the ability to change the data provider. You can get all of that by paying $39.99/year—but you won’t have to fork over your data along with your money, as the app swears to never sell your info (including location data) to a third party.
Hello Weather
Image: Hello Weather
Hello Weather is a simple weather app, with an even simpler privacy policy (no data collection whatsoever). The free version will give you all the basic information, but you can pay $12.99/year to unlock data sources, enhanced radar features, and more frequent updates.
Ventusky
Image: Ventusky
If you’re a visual person and love looking at live weather apps, this app is for you. Ventusky gives you access to beautiful live maps, without the need to expose yourself to the tumult of cable news.
The app doesn’t collect private data and the free version has useful tools like forecasts, air quality and UV index reports, and more. You can upgrade to a premium plan for $5.99/year to get extra features, like humidity, air pressure, wave forecasts, and ocean currents.
Note the app’s website has the same live maps, so you can skip the app altogether if you like.
(Not Boring) Weather
Image: (Not Boring) Weather
If you want a bit of style along with your data privacy, check out the (Not Boring) Weather app, which takes a typographic approach, giving you basic forecast and weather information in a huge, striking font. It’s light on features, as you won’t find live map or radar data here. The app is a part of the paid $14.99/year (Not Boring) iOS-only suite of apps, which also offers other smartly designed versions of everyday apps, including a calculator, timer, and habit tracker.
[How-To Geek]
