Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

AccuWeather vs The Weather Channel

AccuWeather 4.6★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner AccuWeather
The Weather Channel 4.8★ · Free + IAP 40

AccuWeather is the better choice, offering a more stable and less ad-intrusive experience compared to The Weather Channel, which is currently plagued by significant bugs and a poorly received redesign.

Full reviews: AccuWeather · The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel, despite a higher lifetime rating, has suffered from recent updates that have introduced numerous bugs, crashes, and an unpopular redesign, making it difficult for many users to even access the app. AccuWeather, while not explicitly reviewed here, is cited by users as a more stable and less ad-heavy alternative, suggesting a more reliable user experience.

Head to head

Features and Design edge: AccuWeatherR1R8R19R21
AccuWeather Users of The Weather Channel who are frustrated with its new design mention switching to AccuWeather, implying AccuWeather offers a more acceptable or traditional layout R49.
The Weather Channel The Weather Channel's recent redesign has been widely criticized for being 'horrible,' 'ugly,' and difficult to navigate R1R19. Users report issues like a large, unremovable map, small forecast text, and a lack of dark mode support R21. Some users also miss features from the old version, such as detailed hourly views or the ability to see all daily forecasts on one screen R8R21.
Ease of Use edge: AccuWeatherR6R12R15R22
AccuWeather No specific reviews for AccuWeather regarding ease of use, but it is implicitly favored by users abandoning The Weather Channel due to its poor usability R49.
The Weather Channel The Weather Channel's recent updates have made it extremely difficult to use, with many users unable to get past the initial privacy screen due to a non-functional 'I understand' button R22. Navigation is described as poor, with confusing layouts, difficulty clearing notifications, and issues with saved locations and widgets R6R12R15.
Reliability and Performance edge: AccuWeatherR4R7R9R10
AccuWeather AccuWeather is mentioned as a reliable alternative by users frustrated with The Weather Channel's performance issues R49.
The Weather Channel The Weather Channel is experiencing severe reliability issues, with numerous reports of the app crashing, freezing, or getting stuck on the logo screen after recent updates R4R7R9R10. Some users also report slow loading times and glitches with map features R18.
Accuracy tieR5R9R12R14
AccuWeather No specific reviews for AccuWeather regarding accuracy.
The Weather Channel The Weather Channel is generally considered accurate by many users R5R9R14. However, some recent reviews claim it's 'useless' and 'hardly ever gets weather right,' or that it's '2 to 3 hours out' . There are also specific complaints about incorrect location data for widgets and irrelevant hurricane warnings for the UK R12.
Price and Value (Free vs. Paid) edge: AccuWeatherR3R17R18R19
AccuWeather AccuWeather is noted for having 'subtle advertising' in its free version, making it a preferred choice over The Weather Channel for users who don't want to pay R49.
The Weather Channel The Weather Channel's free version is heavily criticized for 'too many adverts,' 'constant annoying pop ups,' and 'full screen ads' that make it 'practically unusable' R3R19R26R48. The paid ad-free subscription is available, but users who pay still report glitches R18 and are surprised by the lack of Family Sharing R17. Some features, like 15-minute details, now require payment R21.
Pick AccuWeather if

You prioritize a stable, functional app with a less intrusive free experience and a straightforward design R49.

Pick The Weather Channel if

You value an app that is generally considered accurate for weather forecasting and are willing to tolerate or pay to avoid significant advertising and recent UI issues R5R9R14.

Evidence note: The evidence heavily favors AccuWeather due to the overwhelming number of negative and specific complaints about The Weather Channel's recent updates. AccuWeather's positive standing is primarily inferred from users of The Weather Channel explicitly stating they are switching to or preferring AccuWeather due to TWC's issues.

Frequently asked

Is The Weather Channel app currently working well?
No, many users report that The Weather Channel app is not working well, with frequent crashes, freezing, and an inability to get past the initial privacy screen due to a non-functional 'I understand' button R4R7R10R13.
Does The Weather Channel app have too many ads?
Yes, many users find The Weather Channel app to have 'too many adverts,' 'constant annoying pop ups,' and 'full screen ads' in its free version, making it 'practically unusable' for some R3R19R26R48.
How does AccuWeather compare to The Weather Channel regarding ads?
AccuWeather is perceived to have 'subtle advertising' in its free version, which is preferred by users over The Weather Channel's 'constant annoying pop ups' and 'full screen ads' R49.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] The Weather Channel 2/5 · GB Used to be my favourite….: Horrible redesign.
  2. [R8] The Weather Channel 5/5 · GB Loved it and than the new version came…: …and it became unusable Things that made it different from the other apps disappeared.
  3. [R19] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB Why, why change the format: So bad to navigate with this new format. First it is annoying that the view is only landscape with the radar map taking HALF of the screen making it so difficult to view and navigate. Second, the saturation of adds is ludicrous. It used to be the best app for weather and now it’s useless
  4. [R21] The Weather Channel 2/5 · GB No dark mode support: This update is so bright with no dark mode support, the old version was much easier on the eye, where is the 15 minute details I used to see for the first few hours on the hourly view ….oh you have to pay for this now? Think i might have to change weather app now
  5. [R6] The Weather Channel 3/5 · GB New update: I have been using the weather channel app for years on both platforms. The recent update to the iOS version is annoying because of the way the notifications are shown. You have to go through two pages to clear them.
  6. [R12] The Weather Channel 3/5 · GB Pretty accurate app: Any chance you can fix the widget location so it says my actual location, please? It’s currently saying I’m in Brentwood which is about 20 min drive from where I am. And when I tap on the widget it sometimes open at my current location and others times it switches to Brentwood once it’s opened. It’s pretty random. I just updated the app so it’s not that. I’m on iPhone 14 pro w
  7. [R15] The Weather Channel 3/5 · GB Default location: It is annoying that the default location is City of Westminster. Why is it not possible to have home address as default?
  8. [R22] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB Doesn’t work: Can’t access the app after inputting current location. Try to press ‘I understand’ on the next page but it doesn’t work , so the app can’t be used.
  9. [R4] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB New update crashes app: Just hangs at logo
  10. [R7] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB Utter rubbish: Now doesn’t work, brilliant update!
  11. [R9] The Weather Channel 3/5 · GB Buggy: By far the most accurate weather app in places that seem to have unpredictable conditions (NZ; Cornwall, England) but incredibly buggy. The app freezes and crashes virtually every time I open it.
  12. [R10] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB After last update, app doesn’t work: After last update, the app has stopped working, it just sticks on the logo page and following the previous update it seems I can only view in Landscape mode, so will delete it and use something else
  13. [R5] The Weather Channel 5/5 · GB Best weather app by a distance: I find this an amazing app to be honest the best I’ve ever had and I’ve had quite a few
  14. [R14] The Weather Channel 5/5 · GB Most time accurate: Most time accurate
  15. [R3] The Weather Channel 3/5 · GB TWC: Too many adverts
  16. [R17] The Weather Channel 4/5 · GB No Family Sharing ?: Great app, paid for the yearly no ads but surprised there is no Family Sharing. Any chance of getting this enabled ?
  17. [R18] The Weather Channel 3/5 · GB Glitching: Great app overall but when I try to extend out on the map feature for example uv index the app glitches out and it has been doing for a while now…I do have the premium aswell so I’m paying for something that doesn’t work all the time, please can this be fixed?
  18. [R13] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB No longer works: App no longer works just hangs after get started!!!
  19. [R26] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB No: You have wrecked this apps with pop up advertising. Practically unusable. Avoid.
  20. [R48] The Weather Channel 1/5 · GB Useless: Freezes if I move away to another app and return, plus full screen ads when I’m in a rush are unhelpful. Finally deleted the app.
  21. [R49] The Weather Channel 2/5 · GB Too Many Adverts in The Free Version!: This is a good Weather App but I can’t use it due to the constant annoying pop ups! Other free Weather Apps like AccuWeather have subtle advertising so I’ll be using those. Stop being greedy Weather Channel!

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store