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

First Alert 4 Weather vs 14FirstAlert Weather TriState

First Alert 4 Weather 4.7★ · Free to download 65
Winner First Alert 4 Weather
14FirstAlert Weather TriState 4.7★ · Free to download 60

First Alert 4 Weather has a slight edge due to its slightly better performance and less intrusive ad experience, despite both apps suffering from significant ad-related complaints.

Full reviews: First Alert 4 Weather · 14FirstAlert Weather TriState

Both First Alert 4 Weather and 14FirstAlert Weather TriState are free weather apps that provide local forecasts and severe weather alerts. While both are plagued by frequent ads and occasional bugs, First Alert 4 Weather generally offers a more reliable experience, particularly with its radar and live streams, though 14FirstAlert Weather TriState has some dedicated users who praise its accuracy.

Head to head

Features tieR3R11R23R25
First Alert 4 Weather Users appreciate First Alert 4 Weather for relevant weather information, including alerts for storms, and the ability to see weather maps R11R23. However, some users desire an allergy forecast R3 and a radar screen that shows the entire country . Recent updates have also been criticized for cluttering the radar with too many indicators R25 and removing desired storm info settings R28.
14FirstAlert Weather TriState 14FirstAlert Weather TriState users value its hourly and daily forecasts, and the ability to get alerts for various conditions like tornadoes, snow, and high humidity . Some users specifically praise its radar for being able to pause, go forward/backward, and zoom in . However, a significant number of users dislike recent format changes and map downgrades .
Ease of Use edge: First Alert 4 WeatherR24R25R28R36
First Alert 4 Weather First Alert 4 Weather is described as easy to use and simple . However, some users find the app resets to the home screen after leaving and returning, which is annoying R24. Recent updates have also made the app harder to navigate for some, with complaints about visual clarity and difficulty finding information R25R28R36.
14FirstAlert Weather TriState Users of 14FirstAlert Weather TriState have expressed strong dissatisfaction with new formats and updates, finding them difficult to figure out . There are also complaints about panels being frustrating and not defaulting to the map as set .
Reliability edge: First Alert 4 WeatherR1R4R7R8
First Alert 4 Weather First Alert 4 Weather receives mixed reviews on reliability. Many users praise its accuracy and timely alerts R17R23R32. However, a significant number report bugs, crashes, freezing radar, and videos not loading or having no sound R4R7R8R15. Some also note conflicting information or inaccurate radar R1R4R37.
14FirstAlert Weather TriState 14FirstAlert Weather TriState also faces reliability issues. Users report the app not loading, crashing frequently, especially when trying to view daily or hourly weather or radar . The radar specifically is cited as not working often or being too slow . Accuracy of forecasts is also questioned, with some users stating it's never accurate or misses their specific area .
Price/Value edge: First Alert 4 WeatherR1R6R9R10
First Alert 4 Weather As a free app, First Alert 4 Weather is valued for providing information R11R23. However, the constant and intrusive ads significantly diminish its value for many users, especially during severe weather R1R6R9R10.
14FirstAlert Weather TriState 14FirstAlert Weather TriState is also a free app, but its value is heavily impacted by an overwhelming number of ads . Users feel the ads are too frequent and intrusive, particularly during critical weather events, making the app frustrating and potentially dangerous .
Support tieR4R8R15R18
First Alert 4 Weather Users mention issues like bugs, radar not working after updates, and video playback problems, implying a need for better support or more stable updates R4R8R15R18. There are no direct comments on customer support interaction.
14FirstAlert Weather TriState Users report issues like the app not opening, crashing, and radar not working, suggesting a need for technical support or bug fixes . There are no direct comments on customer support interaction.
Pick First Alert 4 Weather if

You prioritize a slightly more stable radar and live stream experience, and appreciate specific meteorologists . You are willing to tolerate ads, but prefer them to be less disruptive than other free apps .

Pick 14FirstAlert Weather TriState if

You are a dedicated follower of Channel 14 news and weather and value its specific local coverage . You appreciate the detailed radar features like pausing and zooming, assuming they work reliably .

Evidence note: Both apps are free, and much of the negativity for both stems from the intrusive nature of ads, especially during severe weather. This is a common friction point for free apps. Lifetime ratings are very similar, indicating a generally comparable user experience over time, but recent reviews highlight significant issues for both.

Frequently asked

Do these apps have a lot of ads?
Yes, both First Alert 4 Weather and 14FirstAlert Weather TriState are heavily criticized for having too many ads, which often interrupt live streams and critical weather information, making the apps frustrating and potentially dangerous during severe weather R1R6R9R12.
Are the weather forecasts accurate?
Users have mixed opinions on accuracy for both apps. First Alert 4 Weather is praised by some for being very accurate R17R32, but others report conflicting information and inaccurate radar R1R37. For 14FirstAlert Weather TriState, some find it reliable , while others state it's never accurate or misses their specific area .
Do these apps have bugs or crash often?
Yes, both apps frequently experience bugs and crashes. First Alert 4 Weather users report the app breaking every few months, crashing randomly, radar not showing up, and videos not loading or having no sound R4R7R8R15. 14FirstAlert Weather TriState users also complain about the app not opening, crashing often, and radar not working 75% of the time .

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 Weather 3/5 · US Allergy Forecast: It would be helpful to include an allergy forecast.
  2. [R11] First Alert 4 Weather 5/5 · US Info at my fingertips: This is a great app for relevant weather information at my fingertips.
  3. [R23] First Alert 4 Weather 5/5 · US The Best information: I truly look for what information I get from this thread. I have it set up on my alerts!! So I don’t get caught off guard! Thank you First Alert 4!!! Thanks
  4. [R25] First Alert 4 Weather 1/5 · US What happened?: This use to be my go to weather app, it’s pretty much unusable after the latest update. The overlays are a disaster. I just want to be able to see the radar with overlapping warnings, not a bunch of indicators for lighting. They only clutter the radar. It’s a hot mess.
  5. [R24] First Alert 4 Weather 3/5 · US Good app but has some unfriendly behavior: The app content is good but if you leave the app and come back it resets (shows the ad, good back to app Home Screen) do I can’t just go back to where I was. That’s really annoying.
  6. [R28] First Alert 4 Weather 1/5 · US terrible info-no info: app is again worthless. we used to be able set defaults on what to show. now you can’t set storm info, like: rain amount, storm info and direction. yes, it can be added, but each time the app is started, you must select that added profile, which at 3am, lights out, and not wanting to wake up my spouse, that can’t be changed without great difficulty. and you still can’t l
  7. [R36] First Alert 4 Weather 3/5 · US Still new: It’s just been a week or so that you switched your format over and if longer than that, then that tells you I am not a daily user. That being said, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks when it comes to technology. I am sure after more use and getting better acquainted with this new App, it will be fine. I will say, def for now, I liked the visual clarity of the old overview weathe
  8. [R1] First Alert 4 Weather 2/5 · US Conflicting information, ad prioritized: Could literally be dangerous in bad weather that the advertising sponsor takes up the entire screen so long. (Duh, just have the ad at the top or bottom of the screen continuously.) And regular future radar and 24-hr radar conflict, even in the supposed current status.
  9. [R4] First Alert 4 Weather 1/5 · US Not working: Always shows 77* when it’s at least 90* out. Used to be great but it needs looked at now
  10. [R7] First Alert 4 Weather 2/5 · US No sound: The commercial at the beginning has sound. The weather report doesn’t.
  11. [R8] First Alert 4 Weather 4/5 · US Extremely useful but some bugs: I do love that it gives me loud alerts to storms but unfortunately even though I turned off alerts to lightning so I could sleep it still gave me the alerts. Hopefully this bug is fixed quickly. .
  12. [R6] First Alert 4 Weather 3/5 · US Bogus: I can never see the video about the weather - there’s always an ad running instead of the storm warning I want/need to see.
  13. [R9] First Alert 4 Weather 3/5 · US Ok: When watching live for tornado warnings, it’s not helpful to bring up ads in the middle of watching to see where it’s at. Not happy
  14. [R10] First Alert 4 Weather 2/5 · US Slow: While this app provides for accurate weather & the people are great, the app itself is frustratingly slow. You click on the notification & it takes a while for the app to fire up. Then it has to show you a couple of commercials. Then it starts up the video of the weather report that may be recent or maybe 30 minutes old or older. In the mean time I could have clicked on 2 other weather apps
  15. [R15] First Alert 4 Weather 3/5 · US App breaks every few months: It’s great for trying to keep track of the weather and everything, but every few months the app breaks. It crashes trying to open the daily tracker, the radar, and it won’t load even the temperature.
  16. [R18] First Alert 4 Weather 3/5 · US Not reliable: Pages/Radar freezes and goes blank on my iPhone at critical times. The previous version never did this. And yes, my updates and iPhone are up to date.
  17. [R12] 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
  18. [R17] First Alert 4 Weather 5/5 · US Good: Vary accurate 🌪️🌩️⛈️🌨️
  19. [R32] First Alert 4 Weather 5/5 · US Weather app: Excellent and accurate weather app, I watch channel everyday and trust there meteorologist.
  20. [R37] First Alert 4 Weather 2/5 · US Great Notifications, Horrible Radar: Radar is routinely wrong. Whether it is predictions of the path of weather or what the weather is actively doing, it is wrong more often than it is correct. There have been times it is actively pouring over us and when you check radar, there’s nothing showing up within 5-10 miles of us. That said, love the notifications of warnings and the ability to tune int

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