Dark Sky
by Apple Inc. · Utilities & Tools · Weather
A beloved hyperlocal weather app known for minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts, now integrated into Apple Weather.
Quick Answer: Dark Sky has a verified Real Score of 4.1/5 based on 21,250 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.6/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 21,250 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Dark Sky's App Store rating is 0.5 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Hyperlocal precipitation accuracy
- Beautiful minimalist design
- Minute-by-minute rain forecasts
- Timeline weather visualization
Common Complaints
- Shut down as standalone app
- Features absorbed into Apple Weather
- Android users lost access
- Some features lost in transition
Verified Reviews (20)
Miss the standalone app
Dark Sky was perfect - open it and know exactly when rain starts and stops. Apple Weather incorporated the data but the experience isn't quite the same. I miss the original.
Apple killed my favorite app
Buying Dark Sky and shutting it down was frustrating. The precipitation data lives on in Apple Weather but the standalone experience was better. Acquisition casualties.
Precipitation accuracy was unmatched
Dark Sky told me rain would start in 14 minutes and it started in 12. That level of hyperlocal accuracy was magical and no other weather app has replicated it consistently.
Design was ahead of its time
The clean, minimalist interface with the timeline showing temperature and precipitation throughout the day was beautiful. Weather data presented as art. UI design at its best.
Android users got nothing
When Apple bought Dark Sky, they killed the Android app with minimal notice. Android users who relied on it had no equivalent replacement. That still frustrates me.
Notifications were perfectly timed
Getting a notification "Rain starting in 10 minutes" before I left the office was invaluable. The proactive notifications based on your exact location were the killer feature.
Timeline view was the best weather visualization
Scrolling through the day seeing temperature, wind, and precipitation on a timeline was intuitive. You could glance at the timeline and plan your day. No other app did this as well.
API shutdown hurt developers
The Dark Sky API was used by thousands of apps and services. Apple shutting it down forced developers to scramble for alternatives. The API was as beloved as the app.
Worth every penny while it lasted
Paid $4 for the app and used it daily for 5 years. The cost per use was fractions of a cent. One of the best app purchases I ever made. RIP Dark Sky standalone.
Set the standard for weather apps
Dark Sky raised the bar for what a weather app could be. Every weather app today with minute-by-minute precipitation owes something to Dark Sky's innovation.
Data lives on in Apple Weather
At least the Dark Sky data and technology continues in Apple Weather. The precipitation radar and notifications in iOS Weather are Dark Sky's legacy. Better than nothing.
Complications on Apple Watch were perfect
The Dark Sky Apple Watch complications showed upcoming precipitation at a glance. Quick wrist check before leaving the building. The Watch integration was thoughtfully done.
Severe weather alerts saved me twice
Got severe weather alerts specific to my exact location, not just my city. Twice those alerts gave me time to take shelter. Hyperlocal alerts are potentially life-saving.
Morning brief was my routine
The daily morning notification with the weather summary for the day helped me dress and plan. Simple but it became such a part of my routine that I felt lost without it.
Never carried an umbrella unnecessarily again
Dark Sky's accuracy meant I only grabbed an umbrella when it was actually going to rain. No more carrying one "just in case." Trusting the forecast completely was freeing.
Temperature wasn't always accurate
The precipitation forecasts were spot-on but temperature predictions could be off by several degrees, especially for next-day forecasts. Precipitation was the strength, not temperature.
Map radar was beautiful
The precipitation radar map with smooth animations showing weather movement was both useful and mesmerizing. Watching storm systems approach on the Dark Sky map was surprisingly enjoyable.
Privacy-respecting location use
Dark Sky was transparent about location data use and didn't sell it to advertisers. For an app that always knows where you are, the privacy stance mattered.
The gold standard of weather apps
No weather app before or since has matched Dark Sky's combination of accuracy, design, and simplicity. It was the platonic ideal of a weather app. Genuinely perfect.
Should have stayed independent
Apple had the resources to integrate Dark Sky's tech without killing the app. They chose to eliminate competition instead. Users lost a great independent app for a marginal improvement to Apple Weather.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026