RainViewer
An app that sends alerts when rain is heading your way.
What RainViewer does
RainViewer is a radar app focused on one thing: where the rain is and when it gets to you. It shows live radar with satellite and forecast layers, minute-by-minute rain forecasts and alerts for your saved places, plus storm and hurricane tracking. It's free with ads.
If your question is usually "do I have time to walk the dog before it rains?", RainViewer is built for you. It shows live radar on a full-screen map, plays back recent radar, and projects rain forward so you can see what's likely coming. Alerts ping you when rain is forecast to reach a place you've saved.
It also covers severe weather and hurricane tracking, hourly and 14-day forecasts, rainfall totals and short AI-written summaries. There's a standalone Apple Watch app with a radar complication, home and lock screen widgets, and a Mac app. According to a 2026 roundup, its radar covers more than 80 countries.
The free version has ads and a limited archive. Essential removes ads for $19.99 a year, and Pro adds Doppler products for weather fans. The app says it only uses your location for forecasts and alerts and never sells your data.
Alternatives to RainViewer
Who it's for
Skip it if: People who want a full lifestyle forecast with lots of extras.
Pricing
Free planRainViewer is free with ads. Essential removes ads for $4.99 a month or $19.99 a year. Pro adds Doppler radar products for $39.99 a year. Annual plans come with a 14-day free trial.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 17 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Focused and fast for rain timing
- Free trial on yearly plans
- Standalone Apple Watch app
- Says it never sells your data
Watch out for
- Ads on the free version
- Store lists several overlapping prices
- Pro features are mostly for weather enthusiasts
Want a rain app built around your own routine? Build your own.
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Try this idea: “an app that tells me the best 30-minute window today to walk my dog without getting rained on”
Questions people ask
Is RainViewer free?
Yes, it's free with ads. Essential removes ads for $4.99 a month or $19.99 a year.
Can RainViewer tell me when it will start raining?
It gives minute-by-minute rain forecasts for your area and can alert you when rain is heading toward a place you've saved.
Does RainViewer work on Apple Watch?
Yes. It has a standalone Apple Watch app with a radar complication.