Best Aviation Weather Apps in 2026

Getting a good weather briefing starts with the right app

No pilot should be making go/no-go decisions without solid weather data. These apps give you METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, radar, and more.

ForeFlight

best for pilots wanting weather integrated with flight planning

ForeFlight offers the best integrated aviation weather experience available. METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, PIREPs, and radar are all layered directly onto your flight plan and moving map. The graphical weather briefing pulls everything into a single view organized by route segment, so you can see exactly what weather you will encounter and when. For IFR pilots, the icing and turbulence forecasts are particularly well presented.

· Graphical weather briefing tied to your route
· METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, and PIREPs on the map
· Radar, satellite, and icing/turbulence overlays
· NOTAM integration with weather briefing
· Automatic weather updates along your filed route

Garmin Pilot

best for android users or garmin hardware owners

Garmin Pilot delivers a strong weather package that rivals ForeFlight in most areas. You get METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, radar, and AIRMET/SIGMET overlays. Where Garmin Pilot stands out is its ability to receive and display ADS-B weather from compatible Garmin hardware in-flight, giving you real-time radar and METAR updates without a cellular connection. For pilots with Garmin panels, this in-flight weather pipeline is a meaningful safety advantage.

· METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, and AIRMET/SIGMET display
· Radar and satellite imagery overlays
· ADS-B weather integration with Garmin hardware
· Available on Android and iOS
· Weather data layered onto flight plans and moving map

aviationweather.gov

best for pilots wanting free, authoritative weather data

The NWS Aviation Weather Center website is the authoritative source for US aviation weather and it is completely free. It provides METARs, TAFs, area forecasts, winds aloft, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and graphical forecast products. The interface is functional rather than polished, but the data is the same data that feeds every commercial aviation weather app. Every pilot should know how to use this site, even if they prefer a commercial app for daily use.

· Free access to all NWS aviation weather products
· METARs, TAFs, area forecasts, and winds aloft
· Graphical forecasts for icing, turbulence, and convection
· PIREP map display
· No account or subscription required

MyRadar

best for quick radar checks and general weather awareness

MyRadar is not an aviation-specific app, but it is the fastest way to check radar on your phone. The animated radar loop loads instantly, and the interface is clean enough to understand at a glance. Many pilots keep MyRadar as a quick-check companion alongside their primary EFB. The aviation layer add-on provides METARs and flight category colors on the map, bridging the gap between general weather awareness and aviation-specific data.

· Fast-loading animated radar loops
· Clean, intuitive interface for quick checks
· Aviation layer add-on with METARs and flight categories
· Severe weather alerts and notifications
· Free base version with optional premium features

Honorable mentions

If you already use ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot, their built-in weather is excellent. For a free option, aviationweather.gov is the authoritative source. MyRadar is a great quick-check companion.