UAV Forecast alternatives in 2026

Short answer: if the paid plans of UAV Forecast are what made you look elsewhere, the closest free replacement is an app that still shows a multi-day hourly forecast for free and compares it with your drone's limits. Drone Weather Forecast (our app) does that for free, for good: the forecast for the next 7 days, gusts, KP index, satellites and a no-fly zone map never expire and are not a trial; Dronecast and DroneWX are the other drone-specific options. Wind at altitude is a paid feature in our app and in UAV Forecast; the other listings do not say which plan includes it.

Disclosure: Drone Weather Forecast is our app (by Renan Rafael Bertoldo). Several apps have similar names, such as "Drone Forecast" and "Drone Weather Forecast: Airmap"; they are different apps. Competitor details come only from their public App Store (US) listings, checked on 1 November 2026, linked below. Prices change and differ by country: check the store before you buy.

What changed in UAV Forecast

UAV Forecast built the category: a go / no-go answer for drone pilots from wind, gusts, KP index and satellites. In 2023 its free version was cut to a few hours of forecast, and threads asking for an alternative have appeared on r/drones, r/dji, MavicPilots and the DJI forum ever since. As of November 2026 its App Store listing says to "become a subscriber for 24-hour, 7-day, or 15-day hourly forecast", the developer says the no-fly-zone map stays free, and new customers can ask for a 7-day trial. The listed plans start at $39.99 a year (Hobbyist) and go up to $59.99 a year (Professional), with monthly and weekly options.

It is still a solid app with a long history (4.6 stars from about 3,500 ratings). If you fly every week and like it, the subscription may be worth it. If you fly once or twice a month, the alternatives below cover the same checks for less.

Comparison table

"Not stated" means the public listing does not say; it does not mean the app lacks the feature.

The alternatives

1. Drone Weather Forecast (our app)

Free for good, not a trial, and without ads: an hourly forecast for the next 7 days with temperature, rain, cloud cover and visibility, wind speed, gusts and direction, the KP index, the number of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou satellites, a no-fly zone map with official airspace data and DJI GEO zones that works offline, pre-flight checklists and 79 drone presets. Each hour gets a green, yellow or red verdict against your drone's limits (how the verdict works).

Pro is optional: it does not unlock the forecast, it adds extra features and other forecast sources. That means the wind profile by altitude (10 m to 4,200 m), the hourly table, the wind compass, Apple WeatherKit and WeatherAPI as alternative data sources, favourite cities and several drone profiles. It costs $3.99 a year or $14.99 once on the US App Store (local prices elsewhere). See the full free vs Pro list.

Best for: pilots who want the forecast and the checks for free and pay only if they need wind at altitude.
Weak spots: a young app with few ratings yet; no 15-day forecast; no LAANC or authorization filing.

2. Dronecast

A drone weather app by Pinverse with a 7-day hourly forecast, wind and gusts "at different altitudes", KP index, custom limits, DJI zones and airport zones worldwide, and UAS zones plus live NOTAMs for UK Pro users. The developer promises it stays ad-free. Pro is a subscription ($24.99 to $32.99 a year on the US store).

Best for: UK pilots who want official zones and NOTAMs next to the weather.

3. DroneWX

DroneWX (Kain Suite) offers a wind profile "from ground level to several hundred feet" and geo-zone mapping, with subscriptions from $9.99 a year (Value) to $49.99 a year (Pro). It has few ratings so far (4.2 from 35).

Best for: pilots who want a wind profile and do not mind a newer app.

Windy and other general weather apps

In pilot threads on Reddit, the app recommended most often next to UAV Forecast is Windy, a general weather app (4.8 stars from about 80,000 ratings). Its wind map is excellent and its listing shows 16 altitude levels from the surface up; Windy Premium adds more, such as a 1-hour outlook and model comparison. What Windy and other general apps do not do is compare the forecast with your drone's wind and temperature limits and give one verdict for your model. They are a great second opinion next to a drone app.

How to choose

1. Look at gusts, not only average wind. A drone fights the gusts. Compare the forecast gust with your drone's wind resistance (wind limits by model).
2. Check wind at the height you fly. Wind at 120 m is often much stronger than at 10 m (why). If you fly high or near the coast, a wind profile is worth paying for.
3. Check the KP index and satellites before trusting GPS hold (KP index explained).
4. Check the airspace, not only the weather (no-fly zones by country).
5. Count what you really pay. A weekly flyer and a monthly flyer need different plans. A one-time purchase avoids a renewal every year.

Sources

• UAV Forecast on the App Store
• Dronecast on the App Store
• DroneWX on the App Store
• Windy on the App Store
• Drone Weather Forecast on the App Store
• Pilot discussions: r/drones, r/dji, MavicPilots

Found a mistake or a change in one of these apps? Write to support@droneweatherforecast.app and we will update this page.

More guides

• Can you fly a drone in the rain?
• Flying a drone in cold weather
• The KP index explained for drone pilots
• How many satellites does a drone need?
• Wind at altitude: why it is windier up there
• Drone pre-flight checklist
• How much wind can a drone handle?