Best kite-flying weather apps

The short answer: Windy and Windfinder are the two best all-rounders, but the best choice depends on whether you want forecast maps, raw wind graphs, or a quick go/no-go verdict.

Tools

What kite fliers actually need from an app

You do not need a dedicated "kite" app. You need three numbers before you leave the house: sustained wind, gust speed and rain probability — ideally for the next 48 hours, in the 8–25 mph range that most kites fly in.

The best apps, compared

• Windy — the best forecast maps. Beautiful wind-speed and gust overlays for anywhere on earth, with a strong hourly timeline. Free tier is plenty. Best for: planning trips and reading gradients.
• Windfinder — the best raw wind data. Detailed hourly wind speed and direction, historically excellent for coastal and spot forecasts. Best for: coastal kite beaches.
• Windy.app (separate from Windy) — good clean hourly graphs and wind roses, solid free tier. Best for: quick hourly checks on a familiar spot.
• Meteoblue — excellent wind-gust charts and multi-model comparison, very reliable forecasts. Best for: gust-sensitive flying when models disagree.
• Open-Meteo — free, no signup, open data. You can check the raw forecast in any weather client that supports it. Best for: privacy-minded users who want no account.
• Our own verdict tool — the only one built for single-line kites rather than kitesurfing. It turns wind, gusts, rain and temperature into one plain score with a yes, eh or nope answer. Check today's verdict.

Why most "kite" apps miss the point

Nearly every popular "kite weather" app is built for kitesurfers, who need sustained 12+ mph winds and care about direction. A child with a £5 delta kite has almost the opposite problem — the sweet spot is a gentler 8–15 mph, and direction matters far less. Check the wind range printed on your kite and use a general weather app with a good hourly wind graph instead.

What to check before you head out

• Sustained wind — inside your kite's recommended range?
• Gusts — if gusts are more than double the sustained wind, conditions are lumpy and control will suffer.
• Rain — a wet kite is heavy and sluggish; lightning and wet lines are a hard stop.

Skip the app juggling — get a single kite-flying verdict for your location, or read our guide to the ideal wind speed.