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

First Alert 4 vs First Alert 4 Weather

First Alert 4 4.6★ · Free to download 30
Winner First Alert 4 Weather
First Alert 4 Weather 4.7★ · Free to download 65

First Alert 4 Weather (App B) is the better choice for dedicated weather information and alerts, despite some ad complaints, while First Alert 4 (App A) struggles with numerous functionality issues and an overwhelming ad experience.

Full reviews: First Alert 4 · First Alert 4 Weather

First Alert 4 Weather (App B) generally delivers on its promise of weather information and alerts, though users are frustrated by ads during critical weather events. First Alert 4 (App A), a general news app, is plagued by widespread complaints about excessive ads, broken features, and poor navigation after recent updates.

Head to head

Features and Content edge: First Alert 4 WeatherR3R5R6R8
First Alert 4 Users of First Alert 4 (App A) appreciate general news content, local shows like 'Great Day St. Louis,' and the ability to watch newscasts R5R8. However, many report difficulty finding specific stories mentioned on TV, old content, and issues with videos not playing or titles not matching video content R3R6R31.
First Alert 4 Weather First Alert 4 Weather (App B) users value its accurate weather forecasts, severe weather alerts, and radar . Specific features like live streaming during severe weather are appreciated, though often interrupted by ads R72R79. Some users desire an allergy forecast or broader national radar coverage .
Ease of Use and Navigation edge: First Alert 4 WeatherR1R33R35R40
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 (App A) has significant usability problems, with users reporting that clicking back from a story takes them to the top of the feed, making it hard to resume browsing R1. Many find the updated app harder to navigate, with condensed, unreadable fonts, and an inability to swipe between articles R35R44. The app also forces users to close a full-page ad before accessing content R33R40.
First Alert 4 Weather First Alert 4 Weather (App B) is generally considered easy to use and navigate by some . However, some users report the app is slow to load, resets to the home screen after leaving and returning, and has buggy radar overlays .
Reliability and Performance tieR1R4R6R13
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 (App A) suffers from numerous reliability issues. Custom notifications often don't work, and users receive irrelevant alerts R1. Notifications alerts (the red badge icon) frequently don't clear after reading R18. The app is described as getting worse, with videos not playing, crashing, and general non-functionality R4R6R13R31.
First Alert 4 Weather First Alert 4 Weather (App B) has mixed reliability. While some praise its accuracy and consistent alerts , others report the app crashing, radar freezing or going blank, and videos not loading or playing without sound . Some users also report receiving irrelevant notifications despite setting preferences .
Ads and Monetization edge: First Alert 4 WeatherR6R9R12R13
First Alert 4 First Alert 4 (App A) is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of ads. Users complain about autoplaying videos with sound, ads interrupting stories, full-page ads upon opening the app, and ads during severe weather R6R9R12. Some ads are described as inappropriate or pornographic R13.
First Alert 4 Weather First Alert 4 Weather (App B) also faces significant criticism for ads, particularly during critical weather coverage. Users are frustrated by ads that take up the entire screen, interrupt live streams during tornado warnings, and play before weather videos . However, some users note it has fewer pop-up ads than competitor apps .
Pick First Alert 4 if

You primarily want to follow general local news and specific local shows like 'Great Day St. Louis,' and are willing to tolerate numerous ads and potential app functionality issues R5R8.

Pick First Alert 4 Weather if

You need reliable local weather forecasts, radar, and severe weather alerts, and are willing to contend with ads, even if they sometimes interrupt critical information .

Evidence note: Reviews for First Alert 4 (App A) are overwhelmingly negative, focusing on recent updates that introduced significant usability and ad issues. Reviews for First Alert 4 Weather (App B) are more mixed, with praise for core weather functions but strong criticism for ad placement during severe weather. Both apps are free, and much of the negativity stems from ad monetization strategies.

Frequently asked

Do these apps have a lot of ads?
Yes, both apps are heavily criticized for having too many ads, with users of First Alert 4 (App A) reporting full-page ads upon opening and autoplaying videos with sound, and users of First Alert 4 Weather (App B) complaining about ads interrupting live severe weather coverage R19R20R33R56.
Are notifications reliable on these apps?
Notifications are a common point of frustration for both apps; First Alert 4 (App A) users report custom notifications not working and receiving irrelevant alerts, while First Alert 4 Weather (App B) users sometimes receive non-severe weather alerts despite setting preferences for emergencies only R1R7R18R38.
Can I watch live news or weather on these apps?
First Alert 4 (App A) users mention watching newscasts, though some report issues with videos not playing R31R44. First Alert 4 Weather (App B) offers live streaming for severe weather, but users are frustrated by frequent ad interruptions that can cause the stream to go black R72R79.

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. [R5] First Alert 4 5/5 · US Great Day St. Louis Rocks!!!: I thoroughly enjoy this show because it is not bad or sad news. It is educational, fun team to watch, I love to know about events, tips & tricks, good news, dining recommendations, & hear about the cast opinions or they share their wkd. plans. The cast is so humble. In order to enjoy my show Great Day St. Louis) & me time, I try to have my phone on silenced mode.
  3. [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.
  4. [R8] First Alert 4 5/5 · US 5 & 6 news: I am very impressed with Morgan & Cameron filling in for Sam & Corey. They are just great together. Need to team them up to anchor a nightly news cast.
  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. [R33] First Alert 4 1/5 · US New App KMOV: The new app is horrible. You have to close an ad and tap on the small banner to even open it versus it just opening from your phone icon. In addition, there is no way to turn off the volume or remove the automatic live feed that now comes on with every story. Too many ads! Very annoying that the ads blares at you the minute you open a story.
  7. [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.
  8. [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
  9. [R4] First Alert 4 1/5 · US App not reading correctly: Please fix the app
  10. [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.
  11. [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.
  12. [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. 🥺
  13. [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.
  14. [R20] First Alert 4 3/5 · US Ads interrupting vital wx news: First, this app is so useful!! But…please, please, please sort out disabling ads when we are in an emergency weather situation. If my power is out and I’m relying on the app to get the broadcast, 60 seconds wasted on a toilet paper ad could make a life or death difference.
  15. [R56] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Changes: What have you done with First Alert 4??? I can’t find the news for all the annoying commercials. They come up as soon as I open the app and I can’t seem to be able to “X” out of them, or find a button to at least turn off the volume. Very difficult to move around in. I hate it.
  16. [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!
  17. [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!
  18. [R38] First Alert 4 1/5 · US Horrible!!!: This new app is the worst! Absolutely horrible! I’ve enabled alerts and have received none. Ads, ads and more ads! It won’t allow me to give 0 stars. Horrible app!
  19. [R31] First Alert 4 1/5 · US App sucks: App sucks and can’t even watch previous newscast on the news channel. Y’all a joke
  20. [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.
  21. [R72] First Alert 4 Weather 3/5 · US Live stream: It’s great to have a mobile app that live streams severe weather when you’re in the basement, but putting multiple ads on your live stream every 3-5 minutes is not a great idea. people need to know where and when a tornado is going to hit their town in that moment. And the ads also mess up the live stream causing it to go black, causing me to restart the app repeatedly. I know ads br
  22. [R79] First Alert 4 Weather 2/5 · US No live stream?: Switched to the app since livestream from website no longer works on my phone, and they don’t list any requirements for it. There’s a tornado warning right now, and the latest video on the app is hours old. What’s the point?

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