Build a weather app around one narrow question. The top of the category belongs to brands with millions of ratings, yet RainDrop launched on July 17, 2023 and makes $126K–502K a month by our estimate (not Apple data, October 16, 2026). US weather data is free from the National Weather Service, and Apple's WeatherKit includes 500,000 calls a month with the developer program.
How much weather apps make
Many apps share the money in Weather. Each of the six apps in the table makes at least $50K a month at the low end of our estimate, and five of them make $100K or more. People are used to paying for weather.
| App | Released | US ratings | Top grossing rank | Monthly revenue, our estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Weather Channel | Nov 9, 2008 | 6,080,924 | #1 | $5.69M–22.74M |
| MyRadar | Jul 17, 2009 | 1,085,535 | #7 | $419K–1.68M |
| Clime (NOAA radar) | Nov 25, 2013 | 1,055,579 | #2 | $488K–1.95M |
| CARROT Weather | Mar 19, 2015 | 87,574 | #11 | $109K–438K |
| RainDrop (rain totals) | Jul 17, 2023 | 22,397 | #10 | $126K–502K |
| Precip (rain forecast) | Apr 15, 2024 | 6,122 | #33 | $55K–220K |
Appto data as of October 16, 2026. Rating growth September 16 to October 16, 2026. Rating counts and chart positions from the US App Store on October 16, 2026. Revenue is our estimate, not Apple data.
On October 16, 2026 The Weather Channel was number 1 in the US top grossing Weather chart, Clime number 2, MyRadar number 7 and RainDrop number 10. The rating count decides little here. Clime has 1,055,579 ratings, RainDrop 47 times fewer, and only 8 places separate them.
Newcomers do break through in weather
Of the ten weather apps in the US top 100 grossing chart on October 16, five launched in or after June 2023. Four of those five have rain or radar in the name.
WeatherWise.app is the clearest case. It launched on October 16, 2024, has 796 ratings, and on October 16, 2026 it was number 8 in the US top grossing Weather chart, above RainDrop. We have no revenue estimate for it because its ratings spiked during the window, but the chart position speaks for its sales. Precip launched on April 15, 2024, has 6,122 ratings and makes $55K–220K a month by our estimate.
Where to get weather data
For the US there is a free source. The National Weather Service publishes point forecasts, precipitation and alerts as open data, "free to use for any purpose" (weather.gov documentation, October 16, 2026). No key is needed, only your own User-Agent with contact details. The rate limit is not published, so cache the responses.
For the rest of the world WeatherKit from Apple is the easier route. The Apple Developer Program membership includes 500,000 calls a month, the next tier is 1 million calls for $49.99, and unused calls do not roll over (WeatherKit page, October 16, 2026). That is plenty for a first version with thousands of users, as long as you don't fetch a forecast every time a screen opens.
Radar is harder than the forecast. NEXRAD radar images are open, but you will have to build and cache the map yourself. If radar is not the core of your idea, leave it for version 2.
What goes into version 1
- One question answered on the first screen. RainDrop and Precip grew on rain. Pick your question and answer it in large type, without ten tabs.
- Location only while in use. You can ask for the location when the app opens and keep it on the phone. People are reluctant to grant permanent location access.
- A widget. It is handy to see the weather without opening the app. A WidgetKit widget ships in the same build.
- When the data arrived. Show the time of the forecast. Stale data without a label looks like a bug.
- Alerts later. A "rain soon" alert needs your own server that polls the forecast for saved places. Without it the app still works, just without advance pushes.
How weather apps charge
All ten apps in the chart are free to download (US App Store, October 16, 2026). They charge inside the app. A workable plan for a newcomer is the main answer for free, and alerts, several places and widgets for a subscription or a single purchase.
If you have no server, a one-time purchase is the fairer deal. People accept a monthly charge more easily when they can see what it pays for, such as rain alerts.
Risks
- Free weather service data covers the US only. Other countries need WeatherKit or a paid provider.
- You can't take the top of search head on. The Weather Channel has 6,080,924 ratings and MyRadar 1,085,535 ratings. A newcomer won't rank next to them for the word weather, people find it through a narrow query.
- Forecast accuracy is on you. If the app promises the minute rain starts, every miss shows. Promise what the data can deliver.
How we counted
Appto estimates revenue from 30 days of App Store rating growth, before Apple's commission. It is our estimate, not Apple data. In half of the cases the estimate is within 2x of the real figure, in four out of five within 3x, and for large apps it tends to run low. Ads, web sales and Google Play are not included. The method is explained in our article on estimating app revenue.
Next steps
This is niche 5 in the book 50 iPhone App Niches. The book has a narrow angle for a newcomer, a five-screen plan for version 1 and a ready task for the agent.
Before you start, check the niche again in Appto. It pulls fresh App Store data on your topic, designs the screens and writes the code together with the agent, builds the App Store page and submits the app to Apple from your account or shows you what to press in App Store Connect.
Questions
How much do weather apps make?
By our estimate as of October 16, 2026, Clime makes $488K–1.95M a month, MyRadar $419K–1.68M and RainDrop $126K–502K. It is an estimate from App Store rating growth, not Apple data.
Where can I get weather data for free?
For the US, from the National Weather Service, whose weather.gov service is free for any purpose. For other countries WeatherKit works, with 500,000 calls a month included in the developer membership.
Does a weather app need a server?
Not for the forecast and the widget, the phone can request those directly. You need a server for alerts that arrive before the rain starts.
Can a new app compete with The Weather Channel?
Not for the general query, it has 6,080,924 ratings in the US. Recent newcomers grew on a narrow question. WeatherWise.app launched in October 2024 and was number 8 in the top grossing Weather chart on October 16, 2026.
Subscription or one-time purchase?
The leaders sell subscriptions. If your app has no server and no running costs, a single purchase for the full feature set is easier to explain.
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