Windfinder Pro is a $12.99 ad-free Android app with wind, weather, wave and tide forecasts for more than 160,000 spots, made for kitesurfers, sailors, surfers, anglers and paragliders. It has 4.7 stars from 15,675 ratings on Google Play, and its newer features, such as wind alerts, sit in a separate Windfinder Plus subscription.
Quick verdict
If you plan your days on the water around the wind, Windfinder Pro gives you forecasts, live station readings and a home-screen wind widget with no ads. Many reviewers call it accurate, several have used it for years, and sailors and anglers in the sample rely on it. The biggest complaint is about accuracy too: many reviewers say a forecast missed, several of them with the wind stronger than predicted, and several are confused when the Forecast and Superforecast models disagree. The developer’s replies say that when both agree, the result is most likely. Several Pro buyers are also unhappy that new features go into the Plus subscription. Don’t rely on this or any single app for severe weather warnings; check official alerts too. Across all ratings, 3.9% are 1 or 2 stars.
Windfinder Pro at a glance
| Developer | Windfinder |
|---|---|
| Store listing | Windfinder Pro: Wind & Weather on Google Play |
| Price | $12.99, with in-app purchases from $0.99 to $9.49 per item |
| Ads | None |
| Play Store rating | 4.7 stars from 15,675 ratings (80.2% of the ratings in the store’s rating breakdown are 5-star) |
| Downloads | 100,000+ |
| Version / last updated | 3.41.1 / August 17, 2026 |
| Requires | Not stated |
| First released | June 15, 2010 |
| Data checked | October 22, 2026 |
What is Windfinder Pro?
Windfinder Pro is the paid, ad-free version of Windfinder, a forecast app built around wind. The listing says it covers wind, weather, waves and tides worldwide, with live measurements from more than 21,000 weather stations so you can check what is actually happening. It is aimed at kitesurfing, windsurfing, wing foiling, sailing, surfing, SUP, kayaking, fishing and paragliding. Windfinder Plus is an optional subscription on top of Pro, and the listing says nothing is taken away from Pro.
Key features
- Forecasts: wind and weather forecasts for over 160,000 spots, and Windpreview for a quick look at the next ten days.
- Superforecast: an hourly high-resolution model for most of Europe, North America, South Africa, Egypt and the Canary Islands.
- Live reports: real-time wind and weather measurements from 21,000+ weather stations.
- Tides and waves: high and low tide forecasts for 20,000 locations, plus wave height, period and direction.
- Maps: animated wind, temperature and precipitation maps, satellite images and a topographic map.
- Alerts and widgets: severe weather warnings for the US and Europe, and small and medium wind widgets.
- Units and data: knots, Beaufort, km/h, m/s and mph; gusts, feels-like temperature, clouds, precipitation, pressure and humidity.
- Windfinder Plus (subscription): wind alerts, a wind report map, value grids on the map, widgets in all sizes and wind barbs for sailors.
Windfinder Pro vs. what a weather app should have
“Listed” means the Google Play listing names the feature, “Partial” means it covers part of it, and “Reviews only” or “Reviews and developer replies” means we found it outside the listing.
Must have
| Feature | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Current conditions and feels-like | Listed | Live station reports and feels-like temperature |
| Hourly forecast | Partial | Superforecast is hourly, in some regions only |
| Daily forecast of 7+ days | Listed | Windpreview covers ten days |
| Chance of precipitation | Partial | Precipitation and precipitation maps; chance not named |
| Wind, humidity, UV index | Partial | Wind and humidity; UV not listed |
| Severe weather alerts | Partial | US and Europe only |
| Radar map | Partial | Precipitation maps and satellite images; radar not named |
| Home-screen widgets | Listed | Small and medium wind widgets; all sizes with Plus |
| Current location and search | Listed | 160,000+ spots, favorites and nearby locations |
| Unit options (°F/°C) | Partial | Wind units listed; temperature units not named |
Should have
| Feature | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notification or lock-screen weather | Partial | Wind alerts with Plus |
| Air quality | Not listed | |
| Multiple saved locations | Listed | Favorites |
| Choice of data source | Partial | Two forecast models, Forecast and Superforecast |
| Layout customization | Reviews and developer replies | Map menu shortcuts (2022 reply) |
| Light and dark themes | Not listed | A few reviewers ask for dark mode; a 2026 reply says it is planned |
| Sunrise, sunset, moon phase | Reviews only | One reviewer mentions sunrise and sunset times |
| Multiple languages | Not listed |
Nice to have
| Feature | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Animated wind or global map | Listed | Animated wind forecast maps |
| Side-by-side provider comparison | Reviews and developer replies | The developer’s replies suggest comparing Forecast and Superforecast |
| Photography times (golden/blue hour) | Not listed | |
| Weather photos | Reviews and developer replies | Webcams with Plus (2020 and 2021 replies) |
| Pollen | Not listed | |
| Lightning strike information | Not listed | |
| Custom temperature alerts | Partial | Wind alerts with Plus, not temperature |
| Rain-incoming notifications | Not listed | |
| Written forecast summary | Not listed |
Windfinder covers wind in depth and the rest of the weather more lightly. A few reviewers say its rain forecasts are weaker than its wind forecasts.
Which forecast should you use?
Windfinder shows two forecast models, and the developer’s replies explain how they relate. Accuracy depends on your region and the model, and the replies below may be out of date.
| Model | What the listing and replies say | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Forecast | Worldwide, with a 10-day view on the map; tap “GFS” in the map’s side menu to switch to it (August 2021 reply) | Covers the whole world |
| Superforecast | Hourly, high resolution (listing); 3 days in hourly steps on the map (August 2021 reply) | Most of Europe, North America, South Africa, Egypt and the Canary Islands only. One reviewer asks for it in Western Australia, Japan and Indonesia, and one complains it isn’t available in Australia |
| Both | When both models predict similar weather, that outcome is the most likely; check nearby station reports and webcams too (2023 to 2025 replies) | Both models are updated 4 times a day (2015 reply). Several reviewers say the two often disagree |
Common problems and fixes
Menu names may differ by version, and the developer’s replies may be out of date.
| Problem | What reviewers report | When | What the developer’s replies suggest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro status lost, or asked to pay again | A few reviewers, two of them after moving to a new phone | 2020 to January 2024 | The license carries over to a new phone on the same platform (October 2022) and stays with the same Play Store account (January 2024); contact support from More > Feedback in the app |
| Spot missing or can’t add your own | Several reviewers | 2018 to June 2024 | Windfinder uses 160,000+ predefined spots such as beaches, buoys and marinas; email [email protected] to ask for a new one (March 2023, May 2024) |
| Can’t find tides or waves | Several reviewers, most recently in August 2026 | 2017 to August 2026 | Use the filter in the spot search to find the nearest tide location (September 2023); waves are only for spots on the open ocean coast (2017) |
| Widget doesn’t refresh or shows wrong values | A few reviewers | 2015 to February 2023 | Turn off power save mode; on Android 7 or older, turn on a screen lock (March 2023) |
| Can’t see rain on the map | One reviewer | May 2024 | Change the map layer in the map menu (May 2024) |
Pros (from user reviews)
- Accuracy: many reviewers call the forecasts accurate. One in October 2025 finds it more accurate than the Met Office and BBC, and one sailor in June 2024 says it gets wind speed and direction to within 30 minutes.
- Clear and simple: several reviewers say it is easy to read and has the information they need without clutter.
- On the water: several sailors and boaters and a few anglers use it to plan their time on the water, and a few say it decides whether they head out. One deep-sea fisherman in August 2023 says they bet their life on it day to day.
- Long-time users: several reviewers have used it for years, one since 2010.
- The widget: a few reviewers like the wind widget, such as one in June 2026 who can see at a glance whether kitesurfing is on at the weekend.
Cons (from user reviews)
- Missed forecasts: many reviewers between 2014 and early 2025 say a forecast was wrong, and several saw much stronger wind than predicted. One sailor in May 2022 met 40 knots on an offshore leg after a 25-knot forecast.
- Two models that disagree: several reviewers don’t know which to trust when the Forecast and Superforecast differ.
- Pro vs. Plus: several Pro buyers dislike that new features, such as wind alerts and the gust map, need the Plus subscription.
- Spots and tides: several reviewers couldn’t find their spot or add their own, and several couldn’t find tide or wave data.
- Licenses: a few reviewers lost their Pro status or were asked to pay again, two of them after moving to a new phone.
- No dark mode: a few reviewers ask for one. A March 2026 reply says it is coming but gives no date.
Across all ratings, 3.9% are 1 or 2 stars and 80.2% are 5-star.
Rating breakdown
| Stars | Ratings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 12,528 | 80.2% |
| 4 | 2,027 | 13.0% |
| 3 | 461 | 2.9% |
| 2 | 153 | 1.0% |
| 1 | 461 | 2.9% |
Source: Google Play ratings histogram, checked October 22, 2026. The histogram adds up to 15,630 ratings, slightly fewer than the 15,675 total, and the shares are of the histogram total.
Pricing
Windfinder Pro costs $12.99 once and has no ads. In-app purchases run from $0.99 to $9.49 per item; the listing says Windfinder Plus is available as an in-app purchase. A March 2024 developer reply says Pro is a one-time payment and works on its own, while Plus is an optional subscription with extras like wind alerts and all widgets, and that it is half price for Pro users. The same reply says upcoming paid features will go into Plus. If you only need forecasts, reports and a small or medium widget, Pro alone covers that.
Privacy and permissions
We couldn’t read the Google Play data safety section, so we make no claim about what it declares. The permissions list includes Google Play license check, approximate location (network-based), full network access, precise location (GPS and network-based), prevent device from sleeping, read Google service configuration, receive data from Internet, run at startup and view network connections. The listing doesn’t explain them.
Who it’s for
Windfinder Pro suits you if you kitesurf, windsurf, sail, fish or fly and want wind forecasts, live station readings and tides for your spots without ads. It works best if you live in a Superforecast region and are willing to cross-check the two models and nearby stations. Skip it if you want a general weather app with dark mode and strong rain forecasts, if your spot isn’t in its list, or if you expect every new feature to be included in the one-time price.
FAQ
What is the difference between Windfinder Pro and Windfinder Plus?
Pro is the one-time purchase, $12.99 on Google Play, with no ads. Plus is an optional subscription that adds wind alerts, a wind report map, value grids, widgets in all sizes and wind barbs. A March 2024 developer reply says Plus is half price for Pro users and that upcoming paid features will be in Plus.
Why do the Forecast and Superforecast show different wind?
They are two different forecast models, the developer’s replies say. When both predict similar weather, that outcome is the most likely. The replies suggest checking nearby station reports and webcams as well.
How do I get my Windfinder Pro purchase on a new phone?
Stay on Android and use the same Play Store account, the developer’s replies from October 2022 and January 2024 say. If the license still doesn’t show, contact support from More, then Feedback, in the app. Two reviewers lost their Pro status after switching phones.
Does Windfinder Pro have severe weather warnings?
Yes, for the US and Europe, the listing says. Don’t rely on this or any single app for severe weather warnings; check official alerts too.
How this review was put together
We haven’t tested Windfinder Pro. This review is based on public information from official sources: the app’s Google Play or App Store listing and rating breakdown, the developer’s website when there is one, and recent user reviews on the store with the developer’s replies. Features and claims are the developer’s own descriptions; what users like and dislike comes from the store reviews. Everything was checked on October 22, 2026. Apps change with every update, so check the store listing before you install.
