The Best UV Index Apps for iPhone in 2026
There are dozens of UV index apps in the App Store, and most of them just repackage the same UV number you already get from Apple Weather. The ones worth installing do something extra — like personalizing the forecast to your skin type, surfacing the data on your Apple Watch, or planning around peak UV hours. Here's an honest comparison of the apps we'd actually recommend, and how Sunwise fits in.
Quick comparison
| App | Personalized | Forecast | Apple Watch | Widgets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunwise | Yes — Fitzpatrick skin type drives a per-user burn time | Hourly UV index + 7-day outlook | Yes — native complications | Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets |
| Apple Weather (built-in) | No — same number for every user | Hourly UV index for the day | Limited — basic complication | Yes (Weather widget) |
| EPA's SunWise UV Index | No — generic UV reading and sun-safety tips | Daily and hourly UV forecast | No | No |
| SunSmart Global UV | Limited — adjusts protection times by skin type | 5-day UV forecast | No | No |
| Sunbeam: UV Index | No | Hourly UV index | Yes | Yes |
In-depth review of each app
Sunwise
Personalized UV forecast app for iPhone
- Best for
- Anyone who wants a UV forecast tailored to their skin tone with native Apple Watch support.
- Forecast
- Hourly UV index + 7-day outlook
- Skin type personalization
- Yes — Fitzpatrick skin type drives a per-user burn time
- Apple Watch
- Yes — native complications
- Widgets
- Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets
- Price
- Free (TestFlight beta)
Built specifically around the Fitzpatrick scale — the same scale dermatologists use — so the UV reading translates directly into a personal burn time in minutes rather than a generic 'High' or 'Very High' label.
Apple Weather (built-in)
Apple's default Weather app
- Best for
- Casual users who just want a quick UV index reading with no extra download.
- Forecast
- Hourly UV index for the day
- Skin type personalization
- No — same number for every user
- Apple Watch
- Limited — basic complication
- Widgets
- Yes (Weather widget)
- Price
- Free
Pre-installed and convenient, but the UV card only shows a number and a label. There's no concept of skin type, so it can't tell you how long you personally can stay in the sun.
EPA's SunWise UV Index
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency app — note: this is a different app to Sunwise
- Best for
- U.S. users who want a UV forecast tied directly to EPA data.
- Forecast
- Daily and hourly UV forecast
- Skin type personalization
- No — generic UV reading and sun-safety tips
- Apple Watch
- No
- Widgets
- No
- Price
- Free
A government-published reference app focused on U.S. ZIP-code forecasts and general sun-safety education. Despite the similar name, it has no relationship to Sunwise — it doesn't personalize forecasts to your skin type and doesn't ship Apple Watch or widget support.
SunSmart Global UV
WHO / Cancer Council app
- Best for
- International users who want a public-health-grade global UV forecast.
- Forecast
- 5-day UV forecast
- Skin type personalization
- Limited — adjusts protection times by skin type
- Apple Watch
- No
- Widgets
- No
- Price
- Free
Backed by the World Health Organization and Cancer Council Victoria. Strong public-health framing with sun protection times, but no native Apple Watch app and limited iOS-platform integration like widgets or App Intents.
Sunbeam: UV Index
Independent UV index app for iPhone
- Best for
- Users who want a polished UV index reading without skin-type personalization.
- Forecast
- Hourly UV index
- Skin type personalization
- No
- Apple Watch
- Yes
- Widgets
- Yes
- Price
- Free with in-app purchases
A clean, well-designed UV index app focused on glanceable readings. Doesn't account for skin type, so the burn-time estimate is generic rather than tailored.
How to choose a UV index app
The right app depends on what you want to get out of it. If you just need a quick reading, Apple's built-in Weather app is fine. If you want sun safety guidance from a public-health source, SunSmart Global UV or EPA's SunWise are both reputable. But if you actually want to know how long you can stay in the sun — not a generic "High" label — you need an app that factors in your skin type.
That's where personalization matters. A UV index of 7 means roughly 15 minutes of safe exposure for someone with very fair (Type I) skin and over 45 minutes for someone with darker (Type V) skin. A UV index app that ignores skin type can't tell you that. For more on the scale itself, see our UV index guide, take the Fitzpatrick skin type quiz to find your type, or read our walkthrough on how to check the UV index on iPhone.
Sunwise vs EPA's SunWise — they're different apps
These two apps share a similar name but they're unrelated. EPA's SunWise is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference app for ZIP-code UV forecasts and general sun-safety education. It doesn't personalize readings to your skin type and doesn't support Apple Watch or widgets.
Sunwise (this app) is an independent personalized UV forecast app for iPhone and iPad built around the Fitzpatrick skin type scale. It calculates a specific burn time in minutes for your skin and surfaces it on your Apple Watch, Home Screen, and Lock Screen.
Try Sunwise free on TestFlight
Sunwise is free to join in the TestFlight beta. You get hourly and 7-day UV forecasts, a personalized burn time based on your Fitzpatrick skin type, native Apple Watch complications, Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, and Siri integration via App Intents.
Join the Beta on TestFlight