The best marine weather apps are among the most essential tools on any boat. Marine forecasts can change rapidly: wind, waves, and fog can quickly turn a pleasant day into a safety issue.
A good app provides high-resolution forecasts, buoy and station observations, tide data, and alerts, allowing you to make informed decisions before and during a trip.
Below are the ten best marine weather apps used by recreational boaters and sailors.
Best Boating Apps: Navigation, Fishing, Weather & More
What Are the Best Boating Weather Apps?
1. Windy (Windy.com)
This app offers a fast, map-based interface featuring multiple forecast models, animated wind and wave overlays, and satellite and radar layers. It is ideal for visualizing changing conditions along a coastal route and comparing models side by side.
Best For: Visual planners who compare models and scan coastlines at a glance.
Price: Free; optional Windy Premium subscription.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
2. Windy.app
This app is built specifically for water and wind sports. It offers spot forecasts, tide charts, wind alerts, and a community feed with local observations. This community feature is particularly helpful in finding up-to-the-minute local reports and tide times.
Best For: Wind and water-sports boaters who want spot forecasts, tides, and local reports.
Price: Free; optional Pro subscription.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
Is Windy.com and Windy.App The Same?
No. They're different companies with different apps, each having distinct features and data pipelines.
3. PredictWind
This marine weather forecast app offers high-resolution models, GRIB downloads, and routing tools for passages. PredictWind's offshore/GRIB features are valuable for planning longer trips and checking multiple model outputs quickly.
Best For: Passage planners who need routing, departure planning, and GRIB downloads.
Price: Free app; paid plans unlock advanced tools.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
4. Windfinder
Windfinder offers reliable forecasts for wind, waves, and tides at thousands of spots worldwide. The animated wind map and station observations make it easy to check live wind and tide information for marinas and nearshore areas.
Best For: Quick checks of wind, waves, and tides at marinas, beaches, and inlets.
Price: Free; optional Plus and ad-free upgrades.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
5. SailFlow
SailFlow provides strong local wind reporting powered by an extensive network of coastal weather stations. The app's live wind reports and nearshore observations are ideal when you need precise, on-the-water wind details for racing or day-sailing.
Best For: Sailors who rely on dense coastal station coverage and real-time wind.
Price: Free; Plus/Pro/Gold memberships available.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
6. Buoyweather
This weather app provides point-based marine forecasts tailored for offshore locations with wind, swell, and tide breakdowns. Buoyweather is a longtime favorite among anglers and offshore boaters seeking clear wind and wave guidance for specific GPS points.
Best For: Offshore anglers and cruisers who want point-based wind and swell guidance.
Price: Free; Premium subscription for extended data.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
7. Navionics Boating
Navionics Boating is a navigation-first app that combines charting with integrated weather overlays (wind, radar, tides). If you want weather plotted directly over nautical charts and offline chart options, this is an ideal app to download.
Best For: Boaters who want weather layered on nautical charts with offline options.
Price: Free download with trial; yearly chart subscription for full features.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
8. MyRadar
MyRadar provides fast, animated radar with lightning and severe-weather alerts. This app's radar-centric view helps spot approaching squalls and heavy precipitation that affect visibility and comfort while underway.
Best For: Watching approaching squalls and heavy rain with fast, animated radar.
Price: Free; optional premium features and add-ons are available.
Download for iOS or Download for Android.
9. Weather4D (Routing & Navigation)
This app features professional-grade routing, GRIB support, and animated model displays built for passage planning. Weather4D is particularly strong for route decisions that unfold over hours or days, especially those with intermittent connectivity.
Best For: iOS users who want advanced routing with GRIB files and slick animations.
Price: Paid iOS app; optional HD forecast subscription.
Available on iOS only; the Android app has been retired.
10. PocketGrib
A compact GRIB viewer and downloader for sailors who work with raw model output. PocketGrib enables you to fetch GRIB files, view wind/wave fields, and analyze model runs, making it a valuable tool for serious cruisers seeking direct model access away from shore.
Best For: Cruisers who prefer working directly with GRIB model data offshore.
Price: Paid iOS app; free Lite version on Android.
Download for iOS or Download for Android (PocketGrib Lite)
Free Vs. Paid Tiers
Many of these weather apps offer a free app download with core features, along with paid tiers that unlock higher-resolution models, longer forecast horizons, or advanced tools such as weather routing and GRIB downloads.
If you mostly boat during the day, the free tier plus a second app for radar may be all you need. If you plan coastal passages or offshore fishing runs, premium features like real-time data overlays, model comparisons, and routing can be well worth it.
How To Pick The Best Boating Weather App For You
- Match features to your trips: Day boating and nearshore cruising benefit from radar, lightning alerts, and tide pages. Offshore routes call for GRIB access, routing, and multi-model comparisons.
- Prioritize live observations: Buoy stations and harbor sensors provide real-time insights into marine conditions, making them ideal for identifying sea-breeze effects or gap winds that models may overlook.
- Look for real-time wind and wave detail: Apps that blend model output with buoy data and ship reports help validate forecasts.
- Compare more than one source: Cross-check a high-resolution model against a global model, and then verify the results with radar and a nearby buoy.
- Check coverage and update cadence: If you operate in narrow channels or rugged coastal areas, choose apps with frequent updates and higher-resolution grids tailored to your region.
- Consider offline needs: For low-connectivity areas, consider apps that cache forecasts or charts for use underway.
Good marine weather apps won't replace seamanship or your local knowledge, but they offer timely, readable weather information to plan safer, smoother trips. Download several marine weather forecast apps for cross-checks and always verify marine forecasts before you cast off.
Read Next: Weather Safety Tips for Boaters
Originally published September 2020. Updated October 2025.
