What’s the point of standalone weather apps when every phone already has a built-in one?
Hey everyone!👋
I’ve been doing some research on weather apps and I’ve been digging into what actually drives people to use other weather apps when they have already have the default ones.
Some apps try to stand out by adding more forecast data like pollen index, or even add personality (like snarky captions) or cute designs. I’m curious — what actually makes a weather app worth switching to?
As a user, what made you download (and stick with) a non-default weather app?
As a maker, do you see opportunities in this space, or is it mostly saturated?
Would love to hear your thoughts and exchange ideas!:)
(PS. We are testing some ideas like providing forecast for special days like weddings or trips. and AI-based voice alarms. )
Replies
What makes it worth switching for me is being able to choose a weather station closer to where I actually live. Some apps only show major city data, but even a few degrees can matter a lot depending on the season.
I don't use the weather app on my phone when I'm at home, because it only shows forecasts for the nearest major city, and I live far enough away that it can make a difference. Especially in the winter, where a few degrees can mean your pipes freezing or not.
My workaround is using the National Weather Service website. They let you choose from a bunch of local weather stations, so I bookmarked the one closest to my house and now I get weather data that's actually useful.
I've also used to use a lightning strike detector app. It shows recent strikes in your area. Kind of niche, but I liked it.
@eliqa Thanks for sharing this, Eli! 🙌
Totally agree! Having access to hyper-local data can make a big difference, especially in extreme weather. Love that you're using the NWS and even lightning detectors — very savvy!
Curious if something like a “Big Day Forecast” (where you tag important dates and get early weather alerts for them), or a “Weather Alarm Clock” (daily forecast read out loud when you wake up) would be helpful to you? love to hear more from you!!:)
We’re exploring how to make weather more personal, proactive and FUN!
@weatherstone I'm not looking for a fun weather app. I just need something practical. One thing that'd be really useful is integrating live camera feeds. Being able to actually see the weather, not just read about it makes it feel more real. For example, being able to see how much snow is on the ground or if visibility is down to 50 feet really helps me understand the conditions. It gives me more confidence when deciding whether(pun intended lol) to hit the road or not... and that just gave me the idea for a tagline for your app. "Whether you're staying in or heading out, we've got you." Or even if the weather looks nice somewhere, I might think, "Hey, it's a perfect day for a trip."
Another thing that's maybe a bit more specific is a weather app that also covers weather-related road conditions. I'd like to be able to save weather stations and get alerts if roads are closed near those stations, especially in the winter when snow can shut everything down. In the winter, I'm always checking NDOT or Caltrans websites for road status.
Also, it's be super useful to set specific weather alerts, like warn me if temps are going over 100F or dropping below 32F in the next few days. Same for big snowstorms. If I lived in Florida, I'd want a heads-up about humidity, or for other areas if there's a chance of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, or even wildfire risk levels. It'd be useful also to include a feature where I can plan ahead for trips. Let's say I was going to Utah next month, plot out some weather stations along the way, and then get alerts leading up to and throughout the trip. That way, I'd know if there's any weather to watch out for in advance.
Why it matters:
Right now it's just cumbersome to check all this info across multiple sources. I'm bouncing between weather apps, road condition sites, and live camera pages just to get the full picture of how the weather is going to drive my decisions. If everything could be in one spot, it'd save so much time and effort.
Also just reading the weather report doesn't hit the same. Seeing it with my own two eyes, watching snow pile up on a live feed or catching dense fog on camera makes it way more real.
So to recap:
Live video feeds showing the weather. Maybe partner with people who have cameras and tap into their feeds.
Road closures caused by weather. There's probably different APIs you can use to get that info.
Customizable alerts for weather attribute thresholds (temp, conditions like ice, snow, humidity, etc.) Also maybe make them sound sort of personal "Hey John, it's gonna be super humid today, maybe rethink outdoor plans."
Future trip weather alerts/Advanced trip weather planning
Hope this helps!
@eliqa Wow, thank you so much for such a detailed and thoughtful response! This is pure gold! 🙌
You nailed exactly the kind of "real-world utility" that a lot of weather apps are still missing. While we may not be able to deliver all the features you mentioned right away, we will definitely take your insights into consideration for future development.
Your ideas around live camera feeds, road closures, customizable alerts, and trip weather planning are incredibly valuable. Actually, on the trip planning side — while we don't cover every road alert yet — even in our MVP version, we offer a "Big Day" feature. It lets you set your destination in advance, and we’ll notify you as soon as forecast data becomes available, so you can check the weather 10+ days ahead for planning purposes. If you’re traveling through multiple cities, you can set several locations too. I know it’s not perfect yet, but hopefully it can be a helpful early reference.
Thanks again for taking the time to share all this. Your feedback couldn’t have come at a better time. Would love to keep you in the loop as we continue building !:)
@weatherstone Sounds like you got something really cool going on! Happy to hear how it unfolds!
Purposeful Poop
I've never strayed from the native ios app like a normie, but i'm pretty sure @mikekerzhner pays for @Meteoblue .
I almost never check the weather beyond looking out the window in the morning though.
is it mostly saturated? hmm IMO there is always space for something really well made! But I imagine your distribution plans would have to be front and center!
Haha, thanks for your reply! Honestly, just looking out the window is still the most reliable way to check for rain or snow 😄
But I’m curious that don’t you ever feel the need to know the temperature, especially the difference compared to the previous day? I feel like that’s something pretty hard to gauge just by looking outside!
And you’re absolutely right about distribution being a key challenge. We’re hoping to attract early adopters who really resonate with our vibe through SNS and community marketing, and work together to polish the product even further.