Windy.com

What it does

Windy.com is a professional-grade weather forecasting app that goes far beyond simple temperature and precipitation predictions. It provides highly detailed, interactive global maps visualizing dozens of meteorological layers, including wind patterns, wave heights, air quality, and atmospheric pressure. The app serves a diverse audience, from casual users to pilots, mariners, surfers, and scientists who require precise and comprehensive weather data.

Where it shines

Windy's greatest strength is its powerful and fluid data visualization. The moment the app opens, you are greeted with a stunning animated map showing wind patterns in real-time. The ability to scrub through a timeline at the bottom (01:25) and see the entire weather system evolve is both beautiful and incredibly informative. The app also excels at providing tools for expert analysis, such as the 'Compare forecasts' feature (02:54), which allows users to see data from multiple trusted models simultaneously, building confidence and empowering informed decisions.

UX highlights

Immediate value: The app skips lengthy introductions and immediately presents its core feature, the interactive map, right after launch (00:02).
Contextual detail panels: Tapping any point on the map (01:45) brings up a clean, expandable forecast panel, providing detailed data without leaving the map view.
Intuitive timeline scrubbing: The timeline at the bottom of the screen is a core interaction, allowing users to fluidly move back and forth in time to see forecast changes.
Power tools for pros: Features like the distance measurement tool (03:22) and complex 'Sounding' charts (03:42) are seamlessly integrated for expert users.
Customizable alerts: The alert creation flow (starting at 08:41) is exceptionally detailed, allowing users to set precise triggers for wind, temperature, and more.
Layered information: The main menu (05:47) neatly organizes dozens of data layers, allowing users to toggle complex visualizations without cluttering the primary interface.

Monetization & growth

The app operates on a freemium model. While the core map and basic forecasts are free, a 'Windy Premium' subscription unlocks more advanced features. The paywall is presented as a soft-sell, accessible via a 'Go Premium' button or when trying to access pro features. The premium screen (00:28) clearly lists its benefits, such as 1-hour forecast steps and a 10-day outlook, and offers a discount for an annual subscription to encourage long-term commitment. There is no forced paywall or free trial during onboarding, allowing users to understand the app's value first.

Who it’s for

Windy is built for a wide spectrum of users, but it particularly caters to those who need more than just a basic weather report. This includes pilots, who benefit from aviation-specific layers; sailors and surfers, who rely on detailed wind and wave data; and meteorologists or serious weather enthusiasts, who appreciate the access to multiple forecast models and advanced analytical tools. The initial onboarding quiz (00:14) even asks users to self-identify with these groups to better tailor the experience.

Notes & opportunities

While incredibly powerful, the sheer number of features can be overwhelming for new, casual users. The app relies on user exploration to discover its depth, but a more guided discovery of advanced features post-onboarding could be beneficial. For example, after a user has used the app for a few days, a small tooltip could introduce the 'Compare forecasts' feature. Additionally, the process of creating an account is somewhat hidden, requiring navigation through several menus (00:40), which could be streamlined for users who want to save their favorites and alerts across devices.