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

WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather vs First Alert 4

WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 4.7★ · Free to download 70
Winner WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather
First Alert 4 4.6★ · Free to download 40

WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather (App A) is the better choice for users prioritizing accurate, local weather information and a generally more stable experience, despite its ad issues.

Full reviews: WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather · First Alert 4

Both WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather (App A) and First Alert 4 (App B) struggle with excessive ads and notification issues, but App A generally provides more reliable weather information and a less buggy user experience, especially after recent updates to App B.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT WeatherR6R7R8R15
WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather App A is praised for its accurate and up-to-date local radar and weather alerts, with some users finding it superior to other weather apps R8R23. However, some users dislike the shift from hourly/daily lists to 'stories' and find the app cluttered with unrelated news and factoids R6R15. The radar speed has also been an issue for some R7.
First Alert 4 App B offers news, weather, and sports content, but users report issues finding specific stories mentioned on TV and complain about old news being displayed . There are also complaints about clickbait headlines for news alerts .
Ease of Use & Navigation edge: WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT WeatherR1R12R16R20
WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather App A is described as generally easy to understand and navigate by some R1R20, but recent updates have introduced navigation difficulties, with screens collapsing or jumping around R16R28. Users also dislike the mandatory opening ad that delays access to critical information R12.
First Alert 4 App B has significant navigation issues, especially after recent updates. Users report being taken to the top of the page after reading a story , difficulty backing out of pages , and the app opening to full-page ads that are hard to dismiss . The new layout is also described as difficult to navigate and slow to load .
Reliability & Performance edge: WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT WeatherR3R9R17R20
WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather App A is generally seen as reliable for weather information and alerts R20, with some users crediting it for saving lives during severe weather R17R23R26. However, there are reports of the app being buggy, closing unexpectedly, freezing, or radar not working R9. Some users also note inconsistencies between app forecasts and TV meteorologists R3.
First Alert 4 App B suffers from significant reliability issues, particularly with notifications not working and videos failing to play . The app is described as buggy and getting worse, with some users unable to access content due to constant ad interruptions or error messages .
Ads & Notifications tieR1R4R6R8
WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather App A is heavily criticized for an excessive number of ads, including pop-ups, opening ads, and commercials that interrupt critical weather information R1R12R18. Users also complain about too many spam notifications for non-weather content, even when specific alerts are disabled R4R6R8. The notification sound is also a point of contention .
First Alert 4 App B is overwhelmingly criticized for an egregious number of ads, including auto-playing videos with sound, full-page ads upon opening, and ads that prevent access to content . Users are particularly concerned about ads interrupting severe weather alerts . Notification issues include alerts not clearing and receiving irrelevant notifications .
Pick WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather if

you prioritize accurate, local weather radar and alerts, and are willing to tolerate frequent ads and occasional navigation quirks R8R23.

Pick First Alert 4 if

you are a loyal viewer of the associated news channel and hope for future improvements to its currently problematic app .

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, and much of the negativity for both revolves around intrusive ads and notification issues, which is common for free, ad-supported apps. App B's recent updates seem to have significantly worsened its user experience, leading to a much higher volume of negative recent reviews compared to App A.

Frequently asked

Do these apps have a lot of ads?
Yes, both WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather (App A) and First Alert 4 (App B) are heavily criticized for an excessive number of ads, including pop-ups, auto-playing videos with sound, and full-page ads that disrupt the user experience and delay access to information R1R12R18R25.
Are the weather alerts reliable?
WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather (App A) is generally praised for its accurate and timely weather alerts and radar, with users stating it's more accurate than other apps and has helped them stay safe during severe weather R8R17R23R26. First Alert 4 (App B) users, however, report that notifications often don't work or are irrelevant .
Is it easy to use these apps?
WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather (App A) has received mixed reviews on ease of use; some find it simple to navigate R1R20, but recent updates have introduced issues like screens collapsing or jumping R16R28. First Alert 4 (App B) is widely considered difficult to use, with numerous complaints about navigation, inability to access content past ads, and a problematic new layout .

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. [R6] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 3/5 · US Just too much: I use weather apps for the weather forecast. I do not use them for useless factoids. If you get this app, go ahead and plan for useless information coming through your notifications. No thank you, deleting the app. I really don’t care that local humans are running this app. They also pull the notification trigger WAY too much.
  2. [R7] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 2/5 · US Weather radar too fast: The weather radars have all been changed in that the Past radar goes by too quickly. It used to pause at the current time’s radar return before repeating the cycle. Now it flies by that and returns to the beginning of the cycle. No time to study the map unless manually pausing it.
  3. [R8] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 5/5 · US Love the Weather, Not the Warning Spam: I really love the radar, it’s consistently more accurate and up to date than many other apps I’ve tried. Unfortunately, the notifications are a major downside. I only have a few very specific alerts turned on, yet I keep receiving notifications for things I’ve disabled. If the notification issues get fixed, I’m happily back on Team WSMV4.
  4. [R15] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 3/5 · US Cluttered: I have to dig through a lot of unrelated news stories and skin cream ads to find what I need now.
  5. [R1] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 1/5 · US Surplus of Ads Ruin what used to be a 5-Star App: This used to be a great 5-star app that was extremely helpful, lightning-fast, and so simple to understand, use, and navigate. It initially had a minimal number of ads that were short, easy to skip, didn’t block or detract users from viewing the important content of important and critical info in time-sensitive situations like severe weather, major
  6. [R12] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 3/5 · US Stop with the opening ad: I get that cool ray probably paid a lot of money for their title sponsorship but do we need to show it every single time I open the app? wasted seconds especially when trying to find news about severe storms quickly and I have to wait for the ad/open screen to disappear.
  7. [R16] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 2/5 · US Not impressed with app: I recently moved here from Cincinnati, Ohio. I found the WLWT app to be very user friendly and easy to navigate. I find the First alert 4 weather app not as user friendly. When trying to scroll down if you accidentally touch the wrong area on the page the page collapses into a list of 4 or 5 smaller boxes. Once there the only way I’ve found to get back to the main page is t
  8. [R20] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 4/5 · US Good: I got the app because I watch the WSMV 4 news channel There’s only one thing I don’t like about this app. Randomly there will be some map key or something like that and it will pop up and I don’t know how to get out of it so I just kill the app and reopen it But overall it’s good, easy to understand, and reliable.
  9. [R3] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 3/5 · US Inconsistency: The app is eh. The only issue I have is the inconsistency it's information is with what the meteorologist say on the tv. Ex: we're supposed to have 30% chance snow showers for Friday according to what they're saying on tv and the app says 15%. It also just shows a cloudy day instead of snow. Which what they say on tv seems more accurate than the app. I don't keep the app around on m
  10. [R9] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 3/5 · US Very buggy now: App closes and jumps around making it harder to use or even want to now .
  11. [R17] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 5/5 · US Awesome: Saved my life Twice.
  12. [R4] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 2/5 · US Too many spam notifications: This is supposed to be a weather app but you get more notifications about other things and have no way to turn them off. I want notifications about weather events not about the color of fireworks.
  13. [R18] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 3/5 · US Weather notices: Way too many commercials people! You break in about a weather notice then make us set thru 2 commercials that we’ve seen a thousand times, hoping the weather won’t kill us before we can get thru the advertising to find out if the storm warning is worth listening to, should we seek shelter, not fun.
  14. [R25] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 1/5 · US Terrible app: Too many ads, including a scare-ware, warning my iPad memory is full. Click to clean. I don’t think so! Deleting NOW!
  15. [R23] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 5/5 · US Barry: I just LOVE my 4 First Alert Weather Team They were telling us about a Tornado Warning before the Weather Service System had given the Warning Always Awsome Always helpful and knowledgeable and informative
  16. [R26] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 5/5 · US Fulfilling a need: The last 5 days show why any middle TN resident needs this service to be prepared for Tornadoes, flooding, rain and wind
  17. [R28] WSMV 4 FIRST ALERT Weather 1/5 · US Horrible app!: Navigation is a MESS… it constantly pushes you to a page of written information that you CANNOT BACK OUT OF without closing the app. Horrible, messy design, too many ads. Way too frustrating to attempt to use.

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