What is it that makes smartphones such an indispensable part of human life? Whether you want to join a work meeting or prepare your weekly grocery list, you’re going to resort to using your phone.
It won’t be wrong to say that smartphones have evolved to become the be-all and end-all of our lives. And the driving force behind every phone is the vast assortment of apps available on leading app stores. On average, U.S. adults spend more than 3.5 hours daily using various apps.
It won’t be wrong to say that smartphones have evolved to become the be-all and end-all of our lives. And the driving force behind every phone is the vast assortment of apps available on leading app stores. On average, U.S. adults spend more than 3.5 hours daily using various apps.
Why Build a Weather App?
Weather apps have turned smartphones into the go-to weatherman. Whether you’re planning a road trip with your family or want to ensure that your employees are safe during a storm, you’ll use an app to check the weather forecast for the coming days and weeks.
As a developer, you can leverage this trend by creating and launching your own weather app. It’s an excellent way of garnering traction and building a huge userbase. You can even earn some extra dollars with the right monetization strategy.
Alternatively, you can design a customized weather app that’s tailored for the needs of specific businesses. This is a great idea considering that modern businesses are increasingly factoring in weather forecasts to inform their decision-making.
But here’s the thing – there’s already an abundance of weather apps and websites available on the internet. So, why should someone choose your app over the ones that have been available for many years now?
The key is to set your weather app apart with a few unique features. This involves various steps, such as understanding your target users’ needs and identifying the essential features. Also, you need to check out a comprehensive weather API comparison to select the right one for your app.
That’s why in this blog, we’ve curated a few effective tips to help you build an outstanding weather app. Let’s get started.
5 Tips to Build a Weather App
First things first – you need to select the type of weather app you want to build. Typically, weather apps can be classified into the following three categories:
- Weather forecast apps
- Climate change apps
- Educational weather apps
The type of weather app you build will depend on the users you want to target. For instance, weather forecast apps usually attract plenty of regular users, as well as businesses. On the other hand, educational weather apps are meant for kids and are widely used by schools.
Now that you’ve decided what type of weather app you want to build, here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Identify Your Competitors
- Know Your Target Audience
- Choose the Right Platform
- List Essential Features
- Choose a Robust Weather API
1. Identify Your Competitors
Find and analyze the most popular weather apps in your niche. Evaluate every app based on various parameters, such as features, interface, navigation, speed, pricing, support, accuracy, etc.
Dig deeper into the features and find out what sets each app apart. Check its ratings and reviews to identify whether the users expect some more powerful features from the app.
2. Know Your Target Audience
Next, you need to perform thorough audience research to understand the needs and preferences of your target users. Use online surveys and polls to identify demographic parameters, such as age group, profession, socio-economic background, etc.
Likewise, if you’re developing a tailor-made app for a business, consult the key stakeholders to understand their needs. Find out their purpose of using a weather app and why the already available options weren’t enough.
3. Choose the Right Platform
When it comes to mobile app development, you can choose between two different types of platforms – Android and iOS. Or you can also build a cross-platform app to maximize traction. Your choice of the development platform will largely depend on your target users.
4. List Essential Features
Next, you need to create a list of the must-have features for your weather app. Most weather apps offer standard features, such as:
- Smart notifications
- Hourly temperature breakdown
- Wind speed
- Air quality index
- Sunrise and sunset times
Additionally, you can offer sophisticated features, such as drought monitoring, weather visualizations, climate maps, temperature trends, etc. However, be careful not to clutter your app with too many advanced features.
5. Choose a Robust Weather API
This is likely the most crucial step of building a weather app. A weather API or application programming interface helps connect your app to large databases of weather-related information. This, in turn, lets your app access historical and current weather data, as well as weather forecasts.
Make sure you choose an API that’s reliable, responsive, and accurate. The most widely used weather APIs include ClimaCell API, AccuWeather, MeteoGroup, and OpenWeatherMap.
Have you ever tried your hands at building a weather app? Share your experience in the comments section below.