Sure, the iPhone’s default Weather app is a nice way to check what’s happening outside. But there’s a much better way to see how Mother Nature is shaping up. Here’s why Carrot Weather is my favorite weather app.

It Makes Weather Fun (and Sometimes Hilarious)

Most of the time, people don’t describe the weather as exciting or fun. But Carrot Weather definitely changes that. Thanks to the snarky and hysterical AI Carrot, you change the app’s personality and what’s displayed on the main forecast page.

If you’re just here for the facts, you can set the personality to Professional or Friendly. But the real fun starts when changing the slider to Snarky, Homicidal, or Overkill personality. With Overkill, you can have Carrot toss profanity into the forecasts. It’s hard not to smile when your weather forecast says “I hope you get impaled by flying debris.” on a windy day!

Along with the comical quips, Carrot can even add in commentary to match your political views. You can choose conservative, liberal, or more unique options, like anarchist. I never thought I’d want to open a weather app to see what it has to say, but that’s exactly what I do many times a day to see what Carrot has come up with. For even more fun, you can also discover a number of achievements and secret locations while using the app.

Carrot Is Completely Customizable

Another reason Carrot Weather stands out as one of best iPhone weather apps is the wide variety of customization options. The entire app can be customized to show the weather information you want. You’ll likely spend most of your time in the Weather section, which shows information about your current location or anywhere else you choose.

To begin, you can select from seven different layout styles in the Layout Gallery. You can then choose exactly what you want to see and in what order. In each section, you can also further customize the weather data. For example, in Precipitation, you can select to see the information in charts or icons and choose the style of the header.

Before finishing, you can quickly view a preview with different weather types to make sure the page provides exactly what you want. Select Smart Layouts, and the section will switch between layouts you choose based on the current weather or proximity to a specific location. With just a bit of work, I’ve been able to craft the weather app I want.

The Weather Maps Are Amazing

When using the map in any weather app, you’re likely looking for information about when rain or snow is headed to your location. Carrot Weather provides that and much more. Along with precipitation, you can also see map layers with temperature, wind speed, and other data like humidity and rain totals.

With the radar, you can select to see precipitation for the next hour, a half-day forecast, or a multi-day forecast. There’s also an option to see a high-resolution radar from stations around the United States.

There Are Multiple Weather Sources to Choose From

A weather app is only as good as its data sources. Apple’s stock Weather app has only one source—Apple Weather. Depending on your location, that might not be the most accurate option. That’s not a problem when using Carrot Weather. There are six global data sources you can choose from, plus a number of regional providers depending on your location. I was able to try out the different data sources and find the best one for where I am.

If you have a Netatmo or Tempest weather station, you can even see information collected from your home in the app.

A Top-Notch Apple Watch App Is Included

Carrot Weather excels on the Apple Watch just like it does on the iPhone. The app on the small screen provides a surprisingly dense amount of weather data. For your current location, or a saved location, you can see the current weather, a forecast for the next 24 hours, and the 7-day forecast.

My favorite feature on the Apple Watch is a radar screen for your current location where you can zoom in and out and even animate it to see exactly where the precipitation is moving. When you’re not using the app, the app’s complications are some of the best available for the Apple Watch. You can add custom weather information directly to any watch face.

If you want to break free of your iPhone’s default Weather app, make sure to give Carrot Weather a try. While there is a subscription required to unlock some of the app’s features, you’ll always smile when checking the weather.