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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

First Alert 4 vs First Alert Weather

First Alert 4 4.6★ · Free to download 40
Winner First Alert Weather
First Alert Weather 4.7★ · Free to download 60

First Alert Weather (App B) is the better choice for dedicated weather information due to its higher user satisfaction with accuracy and reliability, despite both apps suffering from intrusive ads and notification issues.

Full reviews: First Alert 4 · First Alert Weather

Both First Alert 4 (App A) and First Alert Weather (App B) are free news and weather apps that have recently faced significant user dissatisfaction due to intrusive ads, autoplaying videos, and notification problems. While App A struggles with general app functionality, content relevance, and an overwhelming number of ads, App B, despite its own ad issues, is generally praised for its weather accuracy and reliability, making it a slightly better option for users primarily seeking weather updates.

Head to head

Features and Content tieR3R6R10R30
First Alert 4 Users of First Alert 4 report difficulty finding specific stories mentioned on air, issues with stories not loading, and a general lack of useful information R3R6. The app's content is also criticized for having old stories and clickbait headlines R10R30.
First Alert Weather First Alert Weather users appreciate the app for its weather videos and general weather information, though some find the daily and hourly forecast displays less intuitive after updates . There are also complaints about videos being for the wrong geographical area .
Ease of Use and Interface edge: First Alert WeatherR1R35R40R44
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 users widely criticize the app's updated interface as horrible, difficult to navigate, and not user-friendly R40R44R48. Specific complaints include being taken back to the top of the feed after reading a story, unreadable font sizes, and inability to swipe between articles R1R35R44.
First Alert Weather First Alert Weather users have mixed feelings about recent updates, with some disliking changes to the forecast page and radar loop . However, some still find the app simple and easy to navigate .
Reliability and Performance tieR6R13R44R48
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 is plagued by numerous performance issues, including stories not loading, videos not playing, and the app crashing or displaying scam ads R6R13R44. Users also report that the app is slow to load R48.
First Alert Weather First Alert Weather users report frequent crashes, especially when trying to view daily or hourly forecasts . Some also note that the app loads slowly even with good reception .
Notifications and Alerts tieR1R7R15R18
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 users report that custom notifications do not work correctly, receiving irrelevant alerts R1. Many also state that they do not receive updates or notifications at all, or that alert icons do not clear after reading R7R15R18.
First Alert Weather First Alert Weather users complain about receiving too many notifications, often for areas they do not live in . Some find the volume of alerts overwhelming and unnecessary .
Ads and Monetization tieR6R9R12R13
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 users are overwhelmingly negative about the excessive and intrusive ads, which often autoplay with sound, interrupt content, and are difficult to close R6R9R12R16. Some ads are described as inappropriate or pornographic R13.
First Alert Weather First Alert Weather also receives significant criticism for intrusive ads that play before content, cover the entire screen, and are difficult to dismiss . Users find these ads particularly problematic during severe weather events when quick updates are crucial .
Weather Accuracy edge: First Alert WeatherR28R68R70R72
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 users do not provide specific feedback on weather accuracy, though one user mentions using the app for weather after finding another app inaccurate R28.
First Alert Weather First Alert Weather receives mixed reviews on accuracy, with some users praising it as dependable and accurate R68, while others claim the radar map and forecasts are consistently wrong and do not match actual conditions R70R72R75.
Pick First Alert 4 if

You are a 'die hard Channel 4 fan' and primarily interested in local news content from that specific station, despite the app's significant usability issues R7.

Pick First Alert Weather if

You are seeking a dedicated weather app and value a local news station's weather reporting, as many users find First Alert Weather's forecasts accurate and reliable, especially for planning travel or work R68.

Evidence note: Recent reviews for both apps are heavily skewed negative, primarily due to recent updates introducing more intrusive ads and functionality issues. While First Alert Weather has a higher lifetime rating, its recent reviews reflect similar frustrations to First Alert 4.

Frequently asked

Do these apps have a free tier?
Yes, both First Alert 4 and First Alert Weather are free to download and use, though this comes with a significant number of advertisements that users find intrusive and disruptive R16R19R29R50.
Are the weather forecasts accurate on First Alert Weather?
User reviews for First Alert Weather are divided on accuracy; some users praise it as dependable and accurate R68, while others claim the radar map and forecasts are consistently wrong and do not match actual conditions R70R72R75.
Do these apps have issues with ads?
Yes, both First Alert 4 and First Alert Weather are heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of intrusive ads that autoplay with sound, interrupt content, cover the entire screen, and are difficult to close, significantly hindering the user experience R16R19R29R50.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 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. [R3] First Alert 4 3/5 · US App: Whenever I hear you say that more of the story is on their app, I cannot find it. No amount of scrolling or search words work.
  2. [R6] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Needs slight improvements: There needs to an auto play option so you can opt out. Have the option to automatically playing videos or when I can just read the story. There’s a glitch where the stories I clicked to read or watch don’t come on. A bunch of advertisements come on and never show the story I clicked on.
  3. [R10] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Clickbait headlines: I get it you want clicks. But every single news alert is clickbait. “Memphis Grizzlies player dies” is as example of an inappropriate time for click bait. Deleting the app.
  4. [R30] First Alert 4 3/5 · US “News”: Half the stories on the page are at least two to three weeks old.
  5. [R1] First Alert 4 1/5 · US App needs work: Many things wrong with this app, once you click a story towards the end of the “top stories”, and you’re finished reading and click back, the app always takes you to the very top - losing where you previously were. The custom notifications don’t work. I have “breaking news” only checked, but I receive notifications of the cardinals minor league team’s results. Please fix!!! This
  6. [R35] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Longtime user, first time reviewer: The current, recently updated version is horrible! Font size of headlines unreadable and not editable. More and larger size ads than actual news. Stay in your lane. I may have to go back to KSDK or Fox2Now.
  7. [R40] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Update: This new update to your app stinks. From the opening, which isn’t easy to get rid of the ad, thanks a bunch by the way, to the new layout. Have you heard the phrase, “ If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it “ ? Well, it wasn’t broke, so fix it, and put it back the way it was
  8. [R44] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Not user friendly: Updated app is horrible! Too many ads. Not able to swipe between articles. Videos do not play. This is a horrible update!! Will be deleting app.
  9. [R13] First Alert 4 1/5 · US TERRIBLE APP SINCE UPDATED: WHEN TRYING TO READ A NOTIFICATION WITH NEWS IT OPENS UP CONSTANTLY THAT MY PHONE IS RESTRICTED AND HACKED BECAUSE I VISITED MANY ADULT WEBSITES. HAVE NEVER DONE ANY OF THAT EVER!!! IT WON’T LET ME GO TO ANY OF THE NEWS STORIES. GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED AND THINKING I MIGHT HAVE TO DELETE THIS APP IF IT CANT BE STOPPED.
  10. [R48] First Alert 4 2/5 · US New app: I do not like the new app. Please go back to the old one. This new one is harder to navigate and takes longer to load.
  11. [R7] First Alert 4 2/5 · US Bring back the old one: Prefer the old one better. Do not get updates or notifications, have been through my settings, have re installed too. I am die hard Channel 4 fan a not being able to notifications and getting other outlets before I get it front here … is upsetting. I have always trusted this source. If this can be fixed please assist. Thank you!
  12. [R15] First Alert 4 3/5 · US App issue: Fix the app so the alert icon goes away
  13. [R18] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Alerts Don’t Work Lately…: Since the February 2026 updates on iOS 26, the alert notification(s) (the number at the top, right, of app or folder it’s contained in) doesn’t go away after reading the article or alert. It’s very annoying!
  14. [R9] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Stop autoplaying videos with sound: The content is good, but I really wish there was an option to either 1) stop autoplaying videos, or 2) at least have them be muted when they do. I actually hate opening this app because it’s so obnoxious and disrupts everything I’m doing. I still do, because I want to see the content, but I don’t enjoy it.
  15. [R12] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Do not like the latest version: I've been using the KMOV App for several years now and I don’t appreciate being forced to listen to ads while reading the stories because there is no pause or volume control. I could care less how Peter Pan feels about AAA. I used to love this app, now I’m not as inclined to use it. 🥺
  16. [R28] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Weather app: The weather channel app came with my iPhone. It was often very wrong. I went to KMOV News channel 4 news app and hit menu and tapped weather app. There was no way to download just the channel 4 St. Louis weather app. All I got was a bunch of advertising and other apps that I certainly didn’t want. And I certainly don’t want anything to do with Google. It seems that everybody and their
  17. [R68] First Alert Weather 5/5 · US Weather peace of mind!: You are the best. I have only one other app. You are most dependable & accurate. Thank you
  18. [R70] First Alert Weather 1/5 · US ALWAYS WRONG!: The radar map and hourly forecasts are ALWAYS WRONG! You’d think in the year 2025 with the technology we have today that weather forecasts would at least be somewhat accurate. Wrong. A forecast of a 90-100% rain day may not see any rain at all while 30-40% may rain significantly all day. A forecast of light thunderstorms may be tornadoes. This morning for instance the hourly and
  19. [R72] First Alert Weather 3/5 · US It will get you by: Not very accurate on forecasting temps compared to national weather service.
  20. [R16] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Too Many Ads!: … on auto play and loud af, when you close one ad, another takes its place. Back to KSDK.
  21. [R19] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Greed putting people at risk: Multiple, constant ads during a dangerous severe weather outbreak is ridiculous. Having to sit through a thirty second commercial of anything before getting to the livestream to find out if you need to be in the basement is a crazy thought and it should be illegal.
  22. [R29] First Alert 4 1/5 · US To Many Advertisements!: The app is more interested in putting up commercials and advertisements. Try the Fox News!
  23. [R50] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Too many ads!!: Too many adds popping up with the new platform. How can I eliminate all of the unnecessary ads like before? If not possible, I will search a new newsfeed.
  24. [R75] First Alert Weather 3/5 · US Wind speed: Why is the app’s wind speed much lower than what is actually occurring? The app reads 5 mph when the actual speed is 15 mph.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store